THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


; 


SKETCH 


OF 


ADONIRAM  JUDSON,  D.D, 


THE 


EUEMAN  APOSTLE. 


BY  DANIEL  C.  EDDY. 


"ABT    THOTJ    JESUS    CHRIST'S    MAN?' 


LOWELL: 

NATHANIEL   L.    DAYTON. 
1851. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1850, 

BY  N.  L.  DAYTON, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


INTRODUCTION. 


SEVERAL  months  ago  I  published  in  a  secular  newspaper 
a  series  of  Sketches,  entitled  "  THE  MINISTERS  or  THE 
OLDEN  TIME."  Among  others,  was  a  sketch  of  Dr.  Jud- 
son,  who  was  then  living,  and  from  whom  no  sad  intelli- 
gence had  been  received.  When,  borne  across  the  deep, 
came  sadly  to  our  hearts  the  melancholy  tidings  that  the 
good  man  had  found  that  rest  which  remaineth  for  the 
weary,  the  publisher  of  this  work  requested  permission  to 
republish  that  Sketch,  so  amended  and  enlarged  as  would 
render  it  interesting  to  the  friends  of  the  departed  mission- 
ary, promising  to  bestow  a  certain  part  of  the  profits 
thereof  upon  the  Nowgong  Orphan  School,  in  Assam.  To 
that  proposition  I  acceded,  with  the  hope  that  the  offering 
might  be  acceptable  to  the  friends  of  Missions,  and  that, 
until  a  full  memoir  could  be  prepared  by  authorized  per- 
sons, this  little  book  might  furnish  interest  for  a  leisure 
hour. 


INTKODUCTION. 

As  the  Board  of  the  Missionary  Union  has  decided  to 
publish  the  life  of  this  eminent  man,  at  some  future  time,  I 
have  not  felt  at  liberty  to  use  materials  which  might  have 
fallen  into  my  hands,  and  to  which  I  might  have  had  access, 
which  would  have  increased  the  value  of  this  volume.  I 
have  inserted  entire  the  accounts  given  of  the  visit  of  Mr. 
Judson  to  Ava  in  1820,  and  his  sufferings  there  in  1824. 
No  abridgment  of  these  would  have  been  allowed  by  the 
reader ;  and  though  they  have  been  read,  again  and  again, 
they  will  not  lose  their  interest,  until  men  look  upon  the 
missionary  enterprise  as  a  useless  expenditure  of  money, 
time,  and  labor. 

The  facts  stated  have  been  examined  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Sharp,  and  several  other  gentlemen  of  eminence,  and  pro- 
nounced correct,  with  the  exception  that  Dr.  Judson  was 
informed  of  the  action  of  American  Baptists  in  1813,  in- 
stead of  1815.  A  letter  was  written  to  him  by  Dr.  Sharp, 
which  communicated  the  joyful  intelligence,  and  his  heart 
was  cheered  with  the  idea  that  his  new  ecclesiastical  friends 
were  to  be  his  warm  supporters. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Woods,  of  Andover,  the  former  instructer  and  ever 
faithful  friend  of  our  subject,  will  be  read  with  interest  ; 
and  as  a  valuable  testimonial  to  the  worth  of  a  good  man, 
and  as  a  just  appreciation  of  motive  and  character,  it  is  here 
inserted.  The  letter  was  addressed  to  the  author  under 
date  of  Nov.  25,  1850,  more  than  forty  years  after  Mr. 


INTRODUCTION.  Y 

Judson,  then  an  unconverted  man,  presented  himself  as 
a  pupil,  to  the  venerable  friend  who  now  remembers  so 
kindly  his  former  charge. 

"  When  Mr.  Judson  came  to  Andover,  he  was  not  a 
professor  of  religion,  and  gave  no  evidence  of  being  a 
Christian.  We  consented  to  his  staying  in  the  Seminary 
for  a  time,  but  did  not  then  admit  him  as  a  member. 
Within  a  month  or  two,  however,  he  became  thoughtful 
and  anxious ;  and  after  a  time  he  showed  signs  of  a 
change,  which  we  hoped  was  the  saving  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  He  was  naturally  the  subject  of  manifest  pride 
and  ambition,  and  it  required  time  and  experience,  and 
discipline  and  divine  influence,  to  bring  him  to  a  consid- 
erable degree  of  humility,  meekness,  and  gentleness. 

"  After  awhile  he  set  his  heart  upon  the  missionary  work, 
and  showed  great  ardor  and  decision  in  pursuit  of  that 
object.  He  possessed  very  active  and  promising  talents, 
and  attained  to  distinguished  scholarship.  You  ask, 
whether  he  and  his  associates  appeared  to  be  impelled  by 
extravagant  romantic  ideas.  I  think  it  was  quite  other- 
wise. They  appeared  to  enter  on  the  work  after  careful 
consideration,  and  with  very  sober  scriptural  views.  They 
engaged  in  the  enterprise  as  a  serious  Christian  duty,  —  a 
work  of  benevolence,  self-denial,  and  piety. 

"  Mr.  Judson  afterwards  evinced  great  improvement  of 
Christian  character.  His  labors  and  trials  were,  through 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

the  grace  of  God,  the  means  of  manifest  growth  in  grace. 
When  I  spent  a  Sabbath  with  him  at  Hamilton,  a  little 
while  before  his  departure,  four  or  five  years  ago,  he 
seemed  to  me  to  have  made  great  progress  in  overcoming 
indwelling  sin,  and  in  attaining  to  the  elevation  and  love- 
liness of  the  Christian. 

"  In  a  word,  he  was  a  man  of  eminent  qualifications,  and 
did  a  great  work ;  and  his  decease  is  a  subject  of  sorrow 
to  the  friends  of  missions  of  all  denominations." 

This  volume  is  now  given  to  the  public  with  the  prayer 
that  it  may  awaken  a  missionary  interest  in  the  minds  of 
the  young,  and  be  a  source  of  good.  It  is  not  a  memoir, 
but  simply  a  Sketch,  reprinted  and  enlarged,  and  adapted 
to  more  general  circulation  than  it  would  have  received 
in  its  original  form;  and  TO  DANIEL  SHARP,  D.D., 

ONE  OF  THE  BRIGHTEST  ORNAMENTS  OP  A  LIVING  MINIS- 
TRY, IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED,  AS  A  MEMORIAL  OF 
THE  DEPARTED. 


ADONIRAM  JUDSON, 


THE 


BURMAN  APOSTLE. 


"  GOD  is  IN  HISTORY,"  is  a  statement,  the  truth  of 
which  nations  and  ages  are  conspiring  to  prove.  The 
last  half  century  has  wonderfully  developed  the  plans  of 
God,  and  unfolded  to  the  eye  of  faith  the  most  sublime 
visions  of  coming  time.  The  dead  past  is  being  linked  to 
the  living  present  and  to  the  unborn  future  with  convincing 
certainty,  and  many  of  the  predictions  of  the  old  prophets, 
which  have  long  been  buried  beneath  the  rubbish  of  mys- 
ticism and  doubt,  now  sparkle  with  light,  and  boast  of 
their  accomplishment.  Men  are  beginning  to  see  through 
the  thin  drapery  of  time,  and  hail  the  great  purposes  of  a 
world's  creation,  with  gladness.  The  last  fifty  years  have 
been  years  of  change,  years  of  mingled  light  and  darkness, 
years  of  peace  and  years  of  bloodshed.  The  world  has 
2 


18  ADONIRAM  JUDSON, 

been  startled  by  Freedom's  life-cry,  and  by  Freedom's 
groan.  Truth  has  been  crushed  to  the  earth,  and,  Phoenix- 
like,  has  started  up  from  her  own  ruins.  The  world  has 
bad  its  Napoleon  and  its  "Wllberforce  ;  its  Kossuth  and  its 
bloody  Haynau.  Adverse  influences  and  principles  have 
contended  for  the  mastery ;  and  banners,  white  and  red, 
have  waved  side  by  side.  The  events,  which  have  trans- 
pired within  the  half  century,  are  not  so  important  in 
themselves,  as  in  their  connection  with  other  events,  which 
they  foreshadow.  They  are  so  many  fingers,  —  some 
emaciated,  and  some  red  with  blood  ;  some  trembling,  and 
some  held  up  fearlessly ;  but  all  pointing  forward  to  more 
dire  convulsions  and  more  glorious  and  important  revolu- 
tions. They  are 

"  The  baby  figures  of  the  giant  mass 
Of  things  to  come  at  large." 

But  of  all  the  great  events  by  which  the  last  half  cen- 
tury has  been  signalized,  no  one  is  more  important,  and, 
to  the  Christian,  no  one  is  more  precious  than  the  great 
revival  of  missionary  enthusiasm.  When  the  clangor  of 
the  midnight  bell  announced  the  death  of  one  century  and 
the  birth  of  another,  the  darkness  which  brooded  over  the 
earth  was  not  more  dense  than  the  moral  night  was  cheer- 
less. The  Christian  world  had  not  begun  to  feel  the 
mighty  motive  to  Christian  activity,  and  religion  sat  with 
folded  wings,  nor  spread  herself  for  flight.  The  clergy, 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  19 

instead  of  arousing  men  to  action,  were  educating  them  in 
doctrine.  Great  men  wasted  time  in  writing  ponderous 
volumes,  which  the  world  has  no  time  to  read,  and  which 
now  moulder  in  dusty  alcoves,  food  for  the  book- worm. 
The  church  saw  nothing  beyond  herself,  and,  contented 
with  her  lot,  desired  no  advancement.  But  a  change  has 
come  ;  —  a  change  as  marvelous  as  that  which  came  over 
Eden,  when  God  said  "Let  there  be  light."  Contro- 
versy, in  which  bitter  feelings  swallowed  up  all  good,  has 
been  forgotten  in  the  great  desire  to  lift  up  the  race,  and 
save  mankind.  Christianity  has  spread  her  wings,  and 
prophesied  of  a  regenerated  world ;  and  man  has  learned 
to  recognize  the  poor  Hindoo,  the  darkened  Ethiopian, 
and  the  wandering  Arab,  as  brother  men.  Religion  has 
more  than  kept  pace  with  literature,  art,  science,  liberty, 
and  equality. 

As  far  as  our  own  land  is  concerned,  this  great  mission- 
ary revival  is  intimately  connected  with  the  movements  of 
five  young  men,  connected  with  the  Divinity  College  at 
Andover ;  who,  in  the  early  part  of  the  century,  deter- 
mined to  go  abroad  as  heralds  of  salvation.  The  idea 
was  a  lofty  one,  and  involved  results  which  those  noble 
disciples  could  not  have  foreseen  nor  imagined.  Their 
enterprise,  which  was  commenced  in  trembling  and  fear, 
which  was  presented  to  the  world  hesitatingly  and  prayer- 
fully, was  immediately  connected  with  the  salvation  of  the 
whole  human  family.  Its  bare  announcement  started  an 


20  ADONIKAM   JUDSON, 

entire  continent  to  thought  and  action.  The  slumbering 
energies  of  God's  people  were  aroused,  and  a  new  impulse 
given  at  once  to  the  cause  of  Christian  benevolence. 

Those  five  young  men,  who  felt  their  souls  thrilled  with 
the  great  ideas  connected  with  a  regenerated  world,  and 
who  formed  a  plan  for  the  establishment  of  a  mighty  mis- 
sion to  the  empires  of  darkness,  have  often  been  compared 
to  seven  spirits,  who,  in  the  Chapel  at  Mont-martre,  cen- 
turies ago,  founded  the  order  of  the  Jesuits,  and,  headed 
by  the  unconquerable  Loyola,  went  out  to  bring  the  world 
to  the  feet  of  the  Roman  pontiff.  And,  in  many  respects, 
they  resembled  each  other.  Each  contemplated  a  mighty 
object ;  each  was  borne  onward  with  an  irresistible  enthu- 
siasm ;  each  had  conquered  self;  each  was  determined  to 
subdue  the  world.  But  the  motives  were  not  alike  :  the 
results  were  to  be  far  different.  "  The  Society  of  Jesus  " 
was  originated  in  the  unbounded  ambition  of  its  founder. 
Disappointed  in  the  acquisition  of  military  fame,  crippled 
by  his  wounds,  restless  beneath  his  defeats,  and  mad  with 
his  race,  he  determined  to  found  an  Order  which  should 
be  man's  most  bitter  foe ;  which  should  hesitate  at  no 
crime,  which  should  suffer  no  defeat.  And  out  they  went 
from  the  Chapel,  in  which  their  vows  had  been  exchanged, 
sharp  and  shining  as  the  sword  of  war.  They  entered  the 
church  of  God,  and  stood  in  disguise  beside  the  altar  of 
the  Protestant  religion  :  they  found  their  way  into  the 
courts  of  kings,  and  looked  upon  the  most  intricate  affairs 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  21 

of  government ;  they  knew  the  secrets  of  cabinets,  coun- 
cils, churches,  and  families.  They  went  everywhere ; 
practising  all  kinds  of  deceit,  and  making  all  manner  of 
pretensions.  They  went  as  the  monk  of  the  shaven  crown 
goeth,  or  as  the  courtly  knight,  or  as  the  profound  scholar, 
armed  with  ponderous  volumes,  as  would  best  suit  their 
purpose.  They  became  the  world's  scourge,  the  plague  of 
the  earth ;  and,  to  this  hour,  though  three  centuries  have 
rolled  away,  men  tremble  at  their  name. 

The  young  men  who  met  at  Andover,  and  there  deter- 
mined to  be  the  first  American  missionaries  to  the  be- 
nighted tribes  of  the  earth,  were  swayed  by  no  restless 
ambition ;  impelled  by  no  desire  to  injure  man,  or  build 
up  a  faction ;  governed  by  no  purpose  of  mortified  pride, 
defeated  cupidity,  or  desire  for  fame.  They  saw  the  con- 
dition of  the  human  family ;  they  understood  the  woes 
which  had  rolled  in  upon  the  human  race ;  they  were 
acquainted  with  the  remedy  ;  and,  full  of  holy  ardor,  they 
determined  to  go  forth,  and  hold  up  the  cross,  that  the 
dying  nations  might  look  and  live.  They  were  entirely 
given  up  to  the  will  of  God  ;  they  had  a  twofold  desire  — 
to  promote  God's  glory,  and  bless  mankind. 

"  Henceforth,  then, 

It  matters  not  if  storm  or  sunshine  be 
My  earthly  lot,  —  bitter  or  sweet  my  cup. 
I  only  pray,  '  God  fit  me  for  the  work,  — 
God  make  me  holy,  and  my  spirit  nerve 


22  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

For  the  stern  hour  of  strife.'    Let  me  but  know 

There  is  an  arm  unseen  that  holds  me  up, 

An  eye  that  kindly  watches  all  my  path, 

Till  I  my  weary  pilgrimage  have  done, — 

Let  me  but  know  I  have  a  friend  that  waits 

To  welcome  me  to  glory,  —  and  I  joy 

To  tread  the  dark  and  death-fraught  wilderness." 

The  disciples  of  Loyola  went  out  to  conquer  fame. 
They  went  with  a  determination  to  make  the  cause  of 
their  leader  prosperous  among  the  nations  of  the  earth. 
They  went,  full  of  desires  for  personal,  political  predomi- 
nance. The  young  men  at  Andover  went  in  view  of 
privations,  and  knowing  that  on  earth  they  could  not 
receive  their  reward.  They  went,  looking  death  and 
suffering  in  the  face.  They  used  the  language  of  one 
who  has  succeeded  them  :  — 

"  When  I  come  to  stretch  me  for  the  last, 
In  unattended  agony,  beneath 
The  cocoa's  shade,  or  lift  my  dying  eyes 
From  Afric's  burning  sands,  it  will  be  sweet 
That  I  have  toiled  for  other  worlds  than  this : 
I  know  I  shall  feel  happier,  than  to  die 
On  softer  bed.    And  if  I  should  reach  heaven,  — 
If  one  that  has  so  deeply,  darkly  sinned  — 
If  one  whom  ruin  and  revolt  have  held 
With  such  a  fearful  grasp,  —  if  one  for  whom 
Satan  hath  struggled  as  he  hath  for  me, 
Should  reach  that  blessed  shore,  —  Oh  then 
This  heart  will  glow  with  gratitude  and  love ! 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  23 

And,  through  the  ages  of  eternal  years, 
Thus  saved,  my  spirit  never  shall  repent 
That  toil  and  suffering  once  were  mine  below." 

One  of  these  young  men,  —  a  sketch  of  whose  life  and 
labors  is  now  to  be  portrayed,  —  was  ADONIKAM  JCDSOK, 
a  youth  then  unknown,  but  whose  fame  now  extends  as 
far  as  the  civilized  world ;  and  whose  toils,  so  abundant, 
so  severe,  and  so  successful,  are  mentioned  with  gratitude 
by  all  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Mr.  Judson  was 
born  at  Maiden,  Mass.,  August  9,  1788.  He  was  the 
son  of  a  Congregational  clergyman,  who  endeavored  to 
educate  the  heart  as  well  as  the  mind  of  his  child.  But, 
notwithstanding  the  prayers,  tears,  and  counsels  of  his 
father,  young  Judson  grew  up  without  religion,  and  some- 
what skeptical  in  relation  to  the  great  cardinal  truths  of 
Christianity.  In  this  state  of  mind  and  heart,  he  entered 
upon  a  course  of  instruction  at  Brown  University,  where 
his  standing  in  his  class  was  such  as  to  give  satisfaction  to 
all  his  teachers  and  friends.  He  graduated  in  1807,  and 
spent  some  time  in  travel,  becoming  acquainted  with  men 
and  things,  and  securing  a  practical  knowledge  of  life, 
which,  in  after  years,  was  of  much  benefit  to  him. 

Soon  after  he  left  the  University,  his  mind  was  turned 
to  the  great  themes  connected  with  the  salvation  of  the 
soul ;  and,  under  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  his 
deistical  notions  vanished,  and  he  saw  his  need  of  a  vital 
union  to  Christ  as  his  Saviour.  He  felt  himself  to  be  a 


24  ADOMEAM  JUDSON, 

lost  sinner,  sold  under  sin,  and  having  nothing  to  recom- 
mend him  to  God,  but  a  carnal  nature  and  a  depraved 
heart. 

To  find  light  in  his  darkness,  and  peace  in  his  sorrows, 
he  went  to  Andover,  and  applied  for  admittance  to  the 
Theological  Institution,  which  had  just  been  established 
in  that  town.  His  object  doubtless  was,  to  avail  himself 
of  the  benefits  of  the  gospel.  The  idea  of  being  a  mis- 
sionary, or  even  a  minister,  was  far  from  his  mind.  His 
soul  was  like  a  vessel  in  a  moonless,  starless  night,  driven, 
an  unmanageable  wreck,  upon  the  bosom  of  the  water. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  the  Seminary,  though 
the  rules  required  evangelical  piety,  and  a  desire  to  preach 
the  gospel,  in  all  who  presented  their  applications.  The 
singularity  of  his  condition  led  the  officers  to  feel  that  th« 
hand  of  Providence  had  presented  a  case  which  could  not 
be  controlled  by  their  laws.  And  subsequent  events 
proved  that  they  had  acted  wisely,  and  they  were  led  to 
adore  the  wisdom  of  Him  whose  ways  are  higher  and 
better  than  the  ways  of  men.  In  a  short  time,  the  new 
pupil  became  a  convert,  not  only  to  the  doctrines,  but  also 
to  the  experience,  of  Christianity.  He  rejoiced  in  a 
"new  heart,"  and  "a  right  spirit,"  and  was  made  to 
glory  in  the  cross  of  Christ. 

Soon,  he  began  to  feel  the  claims  of  the  ministry,  and, 
conferring  not  with  flesh  and  blood,  determined  to  enter 
into  the  work  which  his  Master  was  spreading  out  before 


THE   BUBMAN    APOSTLE.  iiO 

him.  His  conversion  caused  him  to  enter  into  his  studies 
with  new  zeal  and  diligence,  and  light  and  peace  broke  in 
upon  him  at  every  step.  Little  did  he  know  what  God 
was  preparing  for  him,  and  to  what  wild  and  desolate 
scenes  he  was  soon  to  be  led,  and  what  sufferings  he  was 
soon  to  endure, 

While  residing  at  Andover,  his  mind  was  turned  to  the 
subject  of  missions.  Dr.  Buchanan's  "  Star  in  the  East" 
aroused  his  attention,  and  filled  him  with  the  high  and 
holy  purpose  which  has  animated  him  in  all  his  labors 
since  that  time.  That  article  went  down  into  his  heart,  as 
lead  goes  down  into  the  ocean,  and  stirred  up  its  hidden 
thoughts  and  feelings,  and  led  him  to  abandon  home,  and 
country,  and  all  the  joys  of  civilized  life,  for  chains,  and 
dungeons,  and  torture. 

At  that  time  there  was  no  missionary  organization  in 
our  country  which  could  send  him  out  to  a  heathen  land, 
and  he  wrote  to  the  London  Missionary  Society  for  facts 
and  instruction  upon  a  subject  with  which  the  people  of 
America  were  then  but  little  acquainted.  The  reply 
which  he  received  had  an  encouraging  effect  upon  his 
mind,  and,  from  henceforth,  he  was  determined  upon  a 
life  in  heathen  lands,  though  it  should  prove  a  life  of  tears 
and  sorrow.  His  own  feelings  were  communicated  to 
several  other  young  men,  who  entered  into  them  with 
pious  zeal.  After  a  plan  had  .been  somewhat  matured, 
and  opinions  had  been  carefully  and  prayerfully  formed, 


26  ADONIKAM   JUDSON, 

they  together  made  known  their  feelings  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Association  of  Congregational  ministers,  meeting  at 
Bradford,  in  June,  1810.  The  document  presented  to 
this  body  was  the  following :  — 

"  The  undersigned,  members  of  the  Divinity  College, 
respectfully  request  the  attention  of  their  Reverend  Fa- 
thers, convened  in  General  Association  at  Bradford,  to 
the  following  statement  and  inquiries. 

"They  beg  leave  to  state,  that  their  minds  have  been 
long  impressed  with  the  duty  and  importance  of  personally 
attempting  a  mission  to  the  heathen ;  that  the  impressions 
on  their  minds  have  induced  a  serious,  and  they  trust  a 
prayerful  consideration  of  the  subject  in  its  various  atti- 
tudes, particularly  in  relation  to  the  probable  success,  and 
the  difficulties  attending  such  an  attempt :  and  that,  after 
examining  all  the  information  which  they  can  obtain,  they 
consider  themselves  as  devoted  to  this  work  for  life, 
whenever  God,  in  his  providence,  shall  open  the  way. 

"  They  now  offer  the  following  inquiries,  on  which  they 
solicit  the  advice  of  this  Association.  Whether  with  their 
present  views  and  feelings,  they  ought  to  renounce  the 
object  of  missions,  as  either  visionary  or  impracticable  ;  if 
not,  whether  they  ought  to  direct  their  attention  to  the 
eastern  or  western  world :  whether  they  may  expect 
patronage  and  support  from  a  Missionary  Society  in  this 
country,  or  must  commit  themselves  to  the  direction  of  a 


THE   BURMAN  APOSTLE.  27 

European  society ;    and  what  preparatory  measures  they 
ought  to  take,  previous  to  actual  engagement. 

"  The  undersigned  feeling  their  youth  and  inexperience, 
look  up  to  their  fathers  in  the  church,  and  respectfully 
solicit  their  advice,  direction,  and  prayers. 

"  ADONIRAM  JUDSON,  JK., 
SAMUEL  NOTT,  JR., 
SAMUEL  J.  MILLS, 
SAMUEL  NEWELL." 

The  committee,  to  whom  this  paper  was  referred,  pon- 
dered and  measured  the  whole  subject.  They  carried  it 
to  the  throne  of  grace ;  they  laid  it  out  before  a  prayer- 
answering  God,  and,  at  length,  made  the  following  report, 
which  commended  itself  to  the  hearts  of  all  who  were 
convened :  — 

"  The  object  of  missions  to  the  heathen  cannot  but  be 
regarded,  by  the  friends  of  the  Redeemer,  as  vastly  inter- 
esting arid  important.  It  deserves  the  most  serious  atten- 
tion of  all  who  wish  well  to  the  best  interests  of  mankind, 
and  especially  of  those  who  devote  themselves  to  the 
service  of  God  in  the  kingdom  of  his  Son,  under  the 
impression  of  the  special  direction,  '  Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.'  The 
state  of  their  minds,  modestly  expressed  by  the  theological 
students  who  have  presented  themselves  before  this  body, 


28  ADONIEAM   JUDSOX, 

and  the  testimonies  received  respecting  them,  are  such  as 
deeply  impress  the  conviction,  that  they  ought  not  to 
renounce  the  object  of  missions,  but  sacredly  to  cherish 
their  present  views,  in  relation  to  that  object :  and  it  is 
submitted  whether  the  peculiar  and  abiding  impressions  by 
which  they  are  influenced  ought  not  to  be  gratefully 
recognized  as  a  divine  intimation  of  something  good  and 
great  in  relation  to  the  propagation  of  the  gospel,  and  call- 
ing for  correspondent  attention  and  exertions. 

"  Therefore,  Voted,  That  there  be  instituted,  by  this 
General  Association,  a  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 
Missions,  for  the  purpose  of  devising  ways  and  means,  and 
adopting  and  prosecuting  measures,  for  promoting  the 
spread  of  the  gospel  in  heathen  lands." 

But  there  being  no  money  at  hand,  no  great  encourage- 
ment could  be  given,  and  Mr.  Judson  was  sent  to  England, 
to  secure  assistance  from  the  London  Missionary  Society. 
On  his  way,  the  vessel  in  which  he  sailed  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  French,  and  he  was  imprisoned  awhile  at 
Bayonne.  Through  the  interference  of  Americans  he  was 
released,  and  arrived  in  England  in  May,  1811.  Success- 
ful in  some  points,  and  unsuccessful  in  others,  Mr.  J. 
returned,  and,  with  his  associates,  urged  their  claims,  and 
the  claims  of  missions,  upon  the  Christians  of  America ; 
stating  to  them  that,  in  case  their  friends  at  home  refused 
to  act,  they  must  place  themselves  under  the  care  of  Eng- 


THE   EUEMAN   APOSTLE.  29 

lish  missionary  organizations.  Impelled  by  a  love  of 
souls,  the  Board  at  length  decided  to  send  them  out,  and 
trust  in  God  for  the  funds  with  which  to  support  them. 

Mr.  Judson  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Ann  Hassel- 
tine  in  1810,  at  the  time  of  the  sitting  of  the  Association 
in  Bradford.  When  it  was  decided  that  he  should  go  out 
on  a  foreign  mission,  he  invited  her  to  accompany  him,  as 
the  sharer  of  his  sufferings  and  his  rewards.  After  due 
consideration,  in  which  interest  and  duty,  love  of  home 
and  love  of  Christ,  struggled  for  the  ascendancy,  she  gave 
him  an  affirmative  reply,  and  they  were  married  at  Brad- 
ford, Feb.  5,  1812. 

The  ordination  of  these  young  disciples  took  place  on  the 
16th  of  February,  of  the  same  year,  under  circumstances 
of  peculiar  interest  and  solemnity. 

On  a  bleak  day  in  mid-winter,  a  crowd  of  thoughtful 
men  and  women  were  seen  passing  along  the  snow-covered 
streets  of  one  of  our  most  beautiful  New  England  towns, 
towards  an  ancient  and  venerable-looking  sanctuary,  built 
after  the  fashion  of  Whitfield's  Tabernacle,  in  London. 
They  came  from  the  foot  of  Witch  Hill,  from  along  the 
line  of  old  wharves,  across  the  north  and  south  bridges, 
leaving  the  church  of  the  venerable  Hopkins  on  one  side, 
and  that  of  Bently  on  the  other ;  swelling  the  joyful  tide, 
which,  from  the  "  Manse  of  the  Hawthorne's,"  in  one 
part  of  the  town,  to  the  old  Bell  Tavern,  just  beyond  the 
borders  of  the  other,  was  flowing  into  the  church,  where 


30  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

preached  the  first  secretary  and  faithful  friend  of  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions. 
Whoever  entered  on  that  day,  might  have  seen  gathered  in 
the  pulpit,  and  around  the  altar,  men  of  deep  thought, 
and  men  of  decided  action.  The  most  beloved  ministers 
on  the  continent  were  assembled  to  perform  an  ecclesiasti- 
cal service,  evidently  of  the  utmost  importance.  The 
vast,  crowded  assemby ;  the  array  of  intellect,  eloquence, 
strength,  purity ;  the  deep,  thoughtful  appearance  of  the 
whole  assembly,  all  combined  to  give  the  service  an  aspect 
of  unutterable  solemnity.  Before  the  pulpit  sat  five 
young  men.  The  old  pew,  though  remodeled,  still  re- 
mains; and  when,  a  few  years  ago,  Dr.  Judson  returned 
to  this  country,  and  entered  that  time  worn  sanctuary, 
whose  walls  so  long  echoed  the  eloquence  and  fervor  of 
Worcester  and  Cornelius,  names  dear  to  missions,  he  sat 
down  in  it  and  wept  aloud.  These  young  men  had  come 
together,  not  to  have  the  cross  bound  upon  their  shoulders, 
as  it  was  upon  the  garments  of  the  old  Crusaders,  —  it 
was  already  engraven  on  their  hearts,  —  but  to  receive  a 
commission  to  go  forth,  and  hold  up  that  cross,  that  dying 
men  might  look  upon  it,  and  live. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Griffin  led  the  way  to  the  Throne  of 
grace,  in  a  most  hearty  and  honest  prayer,  in  which,  it  is 
eaid,  by  those  who  heard  him,  that  his  soul  seemed  to 
glow,  and  be  on  fire  with  a  holy  enthusiasm,  as,  in  the 
fullness  of  his  heart,  he  referred  to  the  great  event  which 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  31 

had  called  together  such  avast  concourse  of  people.     Rev. 
Dr.  Woods,  that  good  old  athlete   of  the  faith   of  the 
puritans,  preached  a  sermon,  full  of  the   most  judicious 
sayings  and  profound  thoughts,  —  thoughts  of  high  mean- 
ing, and  fitly  uttered.     Dr.  Morse  offered  the  consecrating 
prayer,  in  which  the  church  gave  baafc  to  God  those  whom 
He  had  given  to  be  her  sons.     Rev.  Dr.  Worcester  gave 
the  right  hand  of  fellowship ;  and,  while  the  tears  trickled 
down  his  cheeks  he  addressed  them  with  the  most  tender 
and  touching  language,  until  all  hearts  were  melted,  and  thfc 
great  congregation  was  in  tears.     Rev.  Dr.  Spring  gave  an 
impressive  charge,  in  which  the  importance  of  piety,  prayer, 
and  humble  dependence  on  God,  were  warmly  set  forth. 
The  service  closed  ;  and  the*  young  men  went  forth  with 
the  vows  of  God  upon  them,  to  suffer  and  die  in  the  holy 
service.     They  had  counted  the  cost,  and  were  able  to 
estimate  the  difficulties  which  were  to  be   encountered. 
The  future  they  were  determined  to  brave ;  and,  though 
prisons,  stripes,  and  chains  might  await  them,  they  were 
ready  for  the  sacrifice  or  the  toil.     They  went  out  from 
that  old  sanctuary  with  the  highest  good  of  man  in  view, 
and  followed  by  the  prayers  of  the  church  of  God.     They 
went  not  to  found  an  empire ;  not  to  win  fresh  laurels  on 
the  field  of  blood ;  not  to  secure  high  honors  in  the  halls 
of  science ;  but  to  bold  up  a  crucified  Savior  before  men 
who  had  long  been  accustomed  to  the  worship  of  senseless 
images,  carved  out  of  stone  and  wood.     They  went  in 


32  ADONIRAM    JUDSON, 

humble  dependence  on  the  Infinite,  and  the  result  has 
more  than  realized  the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  those 
•who  sent  them  forth,  and  who  were  constant  in  their 
appeals  to  God  in  their  behalf. 

Messrs.  Judson  and  Newell,  with  their  wives,  took 
passage  for  Calcutta,  on  board  the  brig  "  Caravan,"  and 
sailed  on  the  19th  of  February,  1812.  The  day  was  cold ; 
and,  as  the  vessel  floated  down  the  harbor,  and  disappeared 
from  the  view  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
town  of  Salem,  but  few  realized  what  a  precious  cargo  she 
carried  to  a  world  in  darkness.  The  missionary  enterprise 
was  in  its  infancy,  and  the  church  had  not  been  aroused  to 
its  importance  and  grandeur;  and  when  the  "Caravan," 
spread  her  white  wings  to  catch  the  gales  of  ocean,  some 
loved  and  prayed,  but  more  pitied  and  condemned.  To 
Mr.  Judson  himself,  the  contrast  between  his  first  and 
second  sailing,  must  have  presented  itself  with  peculiar 
force,  as  he  embarked  the  last  time  for  his  Indian  home. 
He  went  out  first,  in  doubt,  and  scarcely  knew  where  on 
God's  green  earth  he  should  find  a  resting-place.  He 
went  ere  the  hearts  of  Christians  had  been  inspired  with 
true  ideas  of  duty,  and  when  a  comparatively  small  number 
were  willing  to  identify  themselves  with  a  course  so 
unpopular,  even  among  the  disciples  of  the  Saviour.  He 
went  with  no  experience,  no  formed  and  fixed  principles 
of  action,  but  leaving  all  to  God's  providence.  He  started 
from  the  wharf  almost  alone.  None  were  there  to  bid 


THE  BDRMAN   APOSTLE.  33 

him  a  kind  farewell,  or  sing  the  parting  hymn,  or  offer  the 
Christian  benediction. 

But  the  second  time,  how  different !  The  wharf  was 
alive  with  human  beings ;  all  denominations  were  repre- 
sented on  the  holy  occasion.  Mingled  tones  of  joy  and 
sadness  were  heard ;  prayers  were  offered,  and  hymns 
were  sung,  and  Judson  sailed  amid  the  pious  ejaculation, 
"God  of  heaven  defend  him,"  from  a  thousand  lips. 

Nothing  very  remarkable  occurred  upon  the  voyage. 
The  great  object  for  which  they  were  going  out  employed 
all  the  thoughts  of  the  missionaries,  and  they  spent  the 
time  in  better  preparing  themselves  for  active  and  suc- 
cessful labors.  The  winds  and  waves,  held  by  Jehovah's 
hand,  conspired  to  render  the  passage  a  safe  and  easy  one ; 
and  though  a  "  home  on  the  deep  "  is  seldom  pleasant  to 
lady  passengers,  yet  the  prospect  of  soon  being  in  their 
field  of  usefulness,  and  the  anxiety  to  prepare  for  the  work 
before  them,  made  the  hours  pass  away  very  rapidly.  Not 
only  Mr.  Judson  and  Mr.  Newell,  but  also  their  wives, 
had  many  hours  of  pleasure  and  delight,  while  tossed  by 
the  tempest. 

They  landed  at  Calcutta,  June  18,  1812,  and  were 
kindly  received  by  Dr.  Carey,  who  was  connected  with 
the  English  mission  at  Serampore.  The  doctor  took  them 
to  his  residence,  fifteen  miles  from  Calcutta,  where  they 
enjoyed  his  hospitality  for  some  time,  becoming  acquainted 
•with  his  associates,  Marshman  and  Ward. 


34  ADONIRAM    JUDSON, 

On  his  outward  bound  passage,  it  occurred  to  Mr.  Judson 
that  he  should  meet  the  Baptist  missionaries  at  Calcutta, 
and  perhaps  be  brought  into  controversy  with  them.  He 
determined  to  examine  the  whole  matter  of  difference  be- 
tween them  and  himself,  and  be  armed  at  all  points  against 
their  arguments.  He  commenced  the  study  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, with  the  aid  of  such  books  as  he  had  at  hand,  and 
gave  himself  up  to  a  serious,  candid  search  for  truth.  But 
aa  he  advanced,  doubts  began  to  thicken  around  him,  and 
the  more  he  studied,  the  more  perplexed  he  became.  He 
was  soon  convinced  that,  in  some  of  his  views,  he  waa 
mistaken,  and  with  an  agitated  mind  confessed  to  his 
companion  that  he  must  leave  the  denomination  to  which 
he  then  belonged,  and  by  which  be  was  being  supported. 
The  circumstances  under  which  Mr.  Judson  was  placed, 
forbid  the  idea  of  selfishness  on  his  part.  Everything 
must  have  been  against  the  decision  which  he  made,  and 
the  struggle  in  his  mind  must  have  been  fearful.  What- 
ever we  may  think  of  the  truth  of  his  new  views,  we  can 
but  admire  the  courage  and  manliness  displayed  in  their 
avowal,  under  such  circumstances  of  trial.  Far  from  home, 
dependent  upon  the  American  Board  for  support,  without 
any  hope  of  being  employed  by  any  Baptist  organization, 
he  boldly  declared  that  his  views  upon  certain  subjects  had 
undergone  an  entire  change,  and  that  he  must  withdraw 
from  a  communion,  the  members  of  which  had  been  so 
kind,  and  were  still  so  dear  to  him.  Mrs.  Judson,  though 


THE   EURMAN   APOSTLE.  35 

she  hesitated  for  awhile,  and  declared  to  her  husband, 
"  that  if  he  became  a  Baptist  she  would  not,"  finally  em- 
braced the  same  opinions,  and  before  the  voyage  ended 
was  as  strongly  entrenched  in  her  new  views  as  was  he. 
On  landing  at  Calcutta,  they  communicated  with  Dr.  Carey 
and  his  associates,  and  very  soon  united  with  the  mission 
church  at  Serampore.  They  were  baptized  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Ward,  in  the  Mission  Chapel,  in  September,  1812. 

Mr.  Judson  announced  his  change  of  views  in  the  fol- 
lowing letters. 

TO    DR.    BALDWIN. 

Calcutta,  August  31,  1812. 

I  write  you  a  line,  to  express  my  grateful  acknowledge- 
ments to  you,  for  the  advantage  I  have  derived  from  your 
publications  on  baptism ;  particularly  from  your  "  Series 
of  Letters ; "  also  to  introduce  the  following  copy  of  a 
letter,  which  I  forwarded  last  week  to  the  Baptist  mission- 
aries at  Serampore,  and  which  you  are  at  liberty  to  use  as 
you  think  best. 

A.  JUDSON,  Jr. 

TO   MESSRS.    CAREr,    MARSHMAN  AND   WARD. 

Calcutta,  August  27,  1812. 

As  you  have  been  ignorant  of  the  late  exercises  of  my 
mind  on  the  subject  of  Baptism,  the  communication  which 
I  am  about  to  make  may  occasion  you  some  surprise. 


00  ADONIRAM   JCDSON, 

It  is  now  about  four  months,  since  I  took  the  subject 
into  serious  and  prayerful  consideration.  My  inquiries 
commenced  during  my  passage  from  America,  and  after 
much  laborious  research  and  painful  trial,  which  I  shall 
not  now  detail,  have  issued  in  entire  conviction,  that  the 
immersion  of  a  professing  believer  is  the  only  Christian 
JBaptism. 

In  these  exercises  I  have  not  been  alone.  Mrs.  Judson 
has  been  engaged  in  a  similar  examination,  and  has  come 
to  the  same  conclusion.  Feeling,  therefore,  that  we  are 
in  an  unbaptized  state,  we  wish  to  profess  our  faith  in 
Christ  by  being  baptized  in  obedience  to  his  sacred  com- 
mands. ADONIKAM  JUDSON,  Jr. 

TO   REV.    DB.    WORCESTER. 

Calcutta,  September  1,  1812. 

REV.  AND  DEAR  SIR  :  My  change  of  sentiments  on 
the  subject  of  Baptism,  is  considered  by  my  missionary 
brethren,  as  incompatible  with  my  continuing  their  fellow- 
laborer  in  the  mission  which  they  contemplate  on  the  island 
of  Madagascar ;  —  and  it  will,  I  presume,  be  considered 
by  the  Board  of  Commissioners  as  equally  incompatible 
with  my  continuing  their  missionary.  The  Board  will, 
undoubtedly,  feel  as  unwilling  to  support  a  Baptist  mis- 
sionary, as  I  feel  to  comply  with  their  instructions,  which 
particularly  direct  us  to  baptize  "credible  believers,  with 
their  households." 


THE   BURMAX   APOSTLE.  37 

The  dissolution  of  my  connection  with  the  Board  of 
Commissioners,  and  a  separation  from  my  dear  missionary 
brethren,  I  consider  most  distressing  consequences  of  my 
late  change  of  sentiments,  and  indeed,  the  most  distressing 
events  which  have  ever  befallen  me.  I  have  now  the 
prospect  before  me  of  going  alone  to  some  distant  island, 
unconnected  with  any  Society  at  present  existing,  from 
which  I  might  be  furnished  with  assistant  laborers  or 
pecuniary  support.  Whether  the  Baptist  churches  in 
America  will  compassionate  my  situation,  I  know  not.  I 
hope,  therefore,  that  while  my  friends  condemn  what  they 
deem  a  departure  from  the  truth,  they  will  at  least  pity 
me,  and  pray  for  me. 

With  the  same  sentiments  of  affection  and  respect  as  ever, 
I  am,  Sir,  your  friend  and  servant, 

ADONIRAM  JUDSON,  Jr. 


TO   DK.    BALDWIN. 

Calcutta,  October  22,  1812. 

The  missionaries  at  Serampore  agree  with  us  in  opinion, 
that,  if  their  Baptist  brethren  in  America  are  disposed  to 
enter  into  the  plan,  the  cause  of  Christ  will  be  best  pro- 
moted by  having  an  American  Baptist  Mission  in  these 
parts,  as  well  as  an  English  Baptist  Mission.  If,  how- 
ever, the  number  of  those  in  America  who  are  favorable  to 
such  a  mission  be  so  small,  and  their  resources  so  scanty, 


38  ADONIRAM  JUDSON, 

as  to  be  inadequate  to  the  undertaking,  the  Serampore 
missionaries  doubt  not  that  their  Society  in  England  will 
receive  us  as  their  missionaries,  depending  on  assistance 
from  the  American  Society  as  an  auxiliary.  The  former 
plan,  as  you  will  easily  imagine,  would  be  more  congenial 
to  our  feelings,  and  we  cannot  doubt  the  pecuniary  re- 
sources of  the  Baptist  churches  in  America.  It  is,  however, 
necessary  to  state,  that  the  expenses  of  a  mission  in  the 
East  will  much  exceed  your  expectations.  The  Serampore 
missionaries,  who  adopt  the  most  economical  measures, 
found  it  necessary  to  allow  Mr.  Robinson  and  wife,  who 
were  intended  some  months  ago  for  Java,  but  have  not  yet 
sailed,  one  hundred  and  forty  rupees  — seventy  dollars  — 
per  month.  They  also  allow  Mr.  Cbater  and  wife,  with 
two  children,  in  the  island  of  Ceylon,  one  hundred  and 
sixty  rupees  per  month. 

I  wish  also  to  state  the  following  plan  of  the  Serampore 
mission,  which  we  cordially  approve  and  wish  to  adopt. 
All  the  pecuniary  avails  of  any  of  the  brethren,  as  well  as 
all  moneys  received  from  the  Society  in  England  belong  to 
the  common  treasury.  Dr.  Carey's  salary  in  the  college, 
of  twelve  thousand  rupees  per  annum,  Dr.  Marshman's 
income  from  the  school,  and  Mr.  Ward's  avails  of  the 
printing-press,  are  as  much  devoted  to  the  common  cause, 
as  receipts  from  England.  Out  of  the  public  treasury, 
each  man,  woman,  and  child,  belonging  to  the  mission, 
receives  a  monthly  allowance  for  clothes,  &c.,  which  varies 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  39 

according  to  age  and  circumstances,  from  twenty  to  forty 
rupees.  The  whole  family,  as  well  as  the  boarders,  eat 
at  a  common  table.  The  table  expenses,  as  well  as  all 
the  expenses  of  the  mission,  arising  from  building,  repairs, 
servants,  pundits,  native  preachers,  &c.,  are  defrayed  by 
appropriations  from  the  public  fund.  The  fund  for  trans- 
lating and  printing  is  preserved  distinct,  in  order  to  secure 
the  subscriptions  of  some  who  might  be  unwilling  to  con- 
tribute to  the  common  object.  A  missionary  in  an  out- 
station  receives  an  allowance  proportioned  to  the  expense 
of  his  situation.  Should  he  be  able  to  lessen  this  by  a 
school,  or  by  any  other  means,  he  is  obliged  to  do  so ;  and 
should  bis  avails  exceed  his  expenditure,  the  surplus 
reverts  to  the  public  treasury.  Still  farther,  all  the  lands 
and  buildings,  belonging  to  the  mission  at  Serampore  and 
elsewhere,  are  deeded  to  the  Society  in  England. 

A.  JUDSON,  Jr. 

Soon  after  this  change  of  views  upon  this  subject  took 
place,  Mr.  Judson  preached  a  sermon,  giving  the  argument 
which  had  operated  so  powerfully  upon  his  own  mind. 
This  sermon  has  passed  through  several  editions,  and  is 
deemed,  by  the  denomination  to  which  the  author  lately 
belonged,  as  incontrovertible. 

The  arrival  of  such  a  body  of  missionaries  from  America, 
excited  the  suspicions  of  the  British  East  India  Company, 
a  body  at  that  time  very  unfriendly  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 


40  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

Orders  were  accordingly  issued,  that  they  leave  the  country, 
for  the  United  States,  without  delay,  and  the  most  vigorous 
measures  were  taken  to  have  these  orders  executed.  Per* 
mission  was,  however,  obtained  to  proceed  to  the  Isle  of 
France.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newell  sailed  at  once,  but  the 
others,  owing  to  unavoidable  detention,  aroused  the  anger 
of  the  officers  of  government,  and  another  order  was  issued 
that  they  sail  at  once  for  England ;  but  after  many  fears,  and 
much  perplexity  and  danger,  they  succeeded  in  evading 
these  unjust  demands,  and  at  length  permission  was  given 
that  they  embark  in  a  vessel  about  to  sail  for  the  Isle  of 
France,  at  which  place  they  arrived  January  17,  1813. 
The  passage  was  long  and  tedious,  and  when  they  landed 
they  were  weary  and  discouraged.  Mr.  Newell  met  them 
on  the  shore  with  the  sad  intelligence  that  his  beloved 
companion  was  no  more ;  that  already  one  of  that  little 
company,  set  apart  in  the  Tabernacle  church  in  Salem, 
had  gone  to  her.  reward. 

At  this  place,  Mr.  Judson  and  his  wife  remained  a  few 
months,  endeavoring  to  do  good  to  the  souls  of  men  ;  and 
then,  committing  themselves  to  the  providence  of  God, 
embarked  for  Madras,  and  from  thence  sailed  to  Rangoon, 
at  which  place  they  arrived  July  14,  1813.  Dark  was 
the  cloud  which  went  before  them,  and  yet  they  followed 
it  with  cheerfulness.  The  all-wise  God  was  preparing  for 
them  a  home,  which  was  to  be  consecrated  with  tears,  and 
groans,  and  sufferings. 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  41 

At  Rangoon,  Mr.  Judson  found  the  vestiges  of  a  mis- 
sionary station  which  had  been  nearly  abandoned  some 
time  before.  Here  he  determined  to  plant  himself,  and 
live  and  labor  for  perishing  men.  Thus  commenced  a 
mission  around  which  glory  now  beams  in  lines  of  light, 
and  which  is  endeared  to  the  hearts  of  all  Christians  by  its 
toils  and  its  success. 

While  laboring  on,  Mr.  Judson  received  the  cheering 
intelligence  that  his  appeals  had  awakened  the  Baptist 
denomination  to  action  upon  the  subject  of  Missions,  and 
stirred  up  a  great  people  to  take  part  in  the  regeneration 
of  the  world.  The  tidings  that  a  Missionary  Society  had 
been  organized,  and  funds  were  to  be  procured,  that  he 
might  labor  efficiently  and  happily  in  his  new  field,  were 
borne  across  the  ocean,  and  fell  upon  his  ears,  at  a  time  when 
he  needed  encouragement  and  sympathy,  and  was  a  star 
in  the  dark  night  which  had  thus  far  been  gathering  about 
him.  Of  the  action  of  American  Baptists  he  was  informed 

% 

in  the  autumn  of  1815,  up  to  which  time  he  had  lived  in 
a  state  of  uncertainty,  depending  on  God,  and  using  his 
utmost  endeavors  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  language 
and  habits  of  the  people. 

The  resolves  passedj  in  relation  to  Mr.  Judson  were 
as  follows :  — 

"Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Adoniram  Judson,  Jr.,  now 
in  India,  be  considered  as  a  missionary,  under  the  care 


42  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

and  direction  of  this  Board,  of  which  he  shall  be  informed 
without  delay.  That  provision  be  made  for  the  support 
of  him  and  his  family  accordingly  ;  and  that  one  thousand 
dollars  be  transmitted  to  him  by  the  6rst  safe  opportunity. 
That  the  secretary  of  the  Particular  Baptist  Society  for 
Missions,  in  England,  be  informed  of  this  transaction ;  and 
that  this  Board  has  assumed  the  pledge  given  by  the 
Boston  Mission  Society,  to  pay  any  bills  which  may  be 
drawn  on  them,  in  consequence  of  advances  they  may  have 
made  in  favor  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson. 

"  Resolved,  That  our  brother  Judson  be  requested,  for 
the  present,  to  pursue  his  pious  labors  in  such  places  as, 
in  his  judgment,  may  appear  most  promising ;  and  that  he 
communicate  his  views  of  future  permanent  stations  to  this 
Board,  as  early  as  he  conveniently  can. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  the  late  Convention 
and  of  this  Board,  be  communicated  to  the  Baptist  Mission- 
ary Society  in  England,  and  to  their  missionaries  at  Seram- 
pore,  assuring  them  that  it  is  the  desire  of  this  Board  to  holcl 
an  affectionate  intercourse  with  them,  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord  :  that  they  will  ever  be  grateful  for  any  information 
which  the  extensive  experience  of  their  brethren  may 
enable  them  to  impart  on  the  subject  of  fields  for  mission- 
ary action,  &c.,  &c.,  and  will  derive  joy  from  the  reflection 
that  though,  in  these  transactions,  their  respective  seats  of 
council  be  remote  from  each  other,  their  hearts  and  aims 
are  harmonious." 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  43 

With  so  much  zeal  did  the  friends  in  this  country  enter 
into  the  work,  that,  the  year  following,  Rev.  George  H. 
Hough  and  his  wife,  were  sent  out  as  a  reinforcement. 
Mr.  Hough  carried  with  him  a  printing-press  and  a  font  of 
types,  a  welcome  donation  to  the  mission,  from  the  English 
missionaries  at  Serampore.  Mr.  Judson  received  this 
valuable  addition  with  tears  of  joy,  and  words  of  praise, 
and  the  arrival  of  his  co-laborer  was  a  bright  and  sunny 
spot  amid  the  sombre  shadows  of  his  journey. 

The  manner  in  which  Mr.  Judson  was  engaged  will  be 
seen  from  the  letters  which  were  received  by  his  friends 
in  this  country.  The  first  is  dated  Rangoon,  August  3, 
1816,  and  is  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Staughton,  of 
Philadelphia. 

"  Four  months  have  now  elapsed  since  I  was  seized 
with  a  nervous  affection  of  my  head  and  eyes,  which  has 
prevented  my  making  any  advance  in  the  language,  and, 
the  greater  part  of  the  time,  has  incapacitated  me  for  even 
writing  a  letter.  I  had  fully  made  up  my  mind  to  take 
passage  to  Bengal,  with  Captain  Kidd,  a  pious  man,  who 
has  been  living  with  us  for  the  last  two  months,  when  the 
news  reached  us  that  brother  Hough  had  arrived  in  Ben- 
gal, and  might  be  expected  here  in  a  few  weeks.  I 
consequently  concluded  to  wait  for  the  present,  and  take 
some  future  opportunity  of  trying  the  sea  air,  and  getting 
some  medical  assistance,  without  which  I  have,  for  some 
time,  feared  that  I  should  never  be  able  to  apply  myself 


44 


ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 


again  to  my  studies.  Within  a  few  days,  however,  I  have 
felt  more  relief  from  the  pain  and  distressing  weakness  of 
my  eyes,  than  I  have  known  since  I  was  first  taken ;  and  I 
begin  to  hope  that  the  measures  I  am  now  pursuing  will 
issue  in  my  recovery,  without  a  voyage  at  sea. 

"  Since  the  llth  of  last  April,  I  have  not  been  able  to 
read  a  page  in  a  Barman  book.  During  this  period,  I 
found  that  I  could  attend,  with  less  pain,  to  the  compila- 
tion of  a  Burman  Grammar,  than  to  any  other  study. 
And  this  I  was  induced  to  persevere  in,  from  the  hope 
that,  if  I  was  never  again  able  to  prosecute  the  study  of 
the  language,  the  knowledge  I  have  hitherto  acquired 
would  not  be  wholly  lost  to  a  successor.  The  grammar  is 
now  completed,  and  I  had  fully  intended  to  forward  you  a 
copy  by  this  conveyance;  but  I  find  that  in  my  present 
state,  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  transcribe  it. 

"  All  that  I  can  do  at  present  is  to  send  you  a  copy  of  a 
Burman  tract,  which  has  been  chiefly  composed  during  the 
same  period,  and  which  I  accompany  with  an  English 
translation.  The  Burman  original  is  pronounced,  by  my 
teacher  and  others,  not  only  intelligible,  but  perspicuous ; 
and  to  get  this  printed  was  one  object  that  I  had  in  view 
in  going  to  Bengal.  Brother  Hough  has,  however,  just 
sent  round  a  press  and  types,  which  are  now  in  the  Ran- 
goon river ;  and  as  he  expects  to  follow  himself,  the  first 
opportunity,  and,  as  I  have  heard,  understands  the  print- 
ing business,  I  hope  the  time  is  not  far  distant,  when  we 


THE   BUKMAS   APOSTLE.  45 

shall  have  a  bit  of  bread  to  give  to  the  starving,  perishing 
Burmans,  around  us. 

"  It  will  probably  be  impossible  to  keep  the  press  long 
in  Rangoon.  It  will  be  ordered  up  to  Ava,  as  soon  as  the 
news  of  such  a  curiosity  reaches  the  king's  ears.  Nor  is 
this  to  be  regretted ;  under  the  overruling  providence  of 
God,  it  may  open  a  wide  door  to  missionary  exertions. 
Two  of  us  would  remove  to  Ava.  Bat  we  could  not  sub- 
sist there,  without  an  intermediate  station  at  Rangoon.  In 
this  view  of  things,  it  would  be  very  desirable,  that 
another  man  should  be  found  to  accompany  brother  Rice. 
If  I  should  say  two  men  more,  with  brother  Rice,  as  I 
wish  to  do,  it  might  appear  inconsistent  with  something  I 
wrote  some  time  ago.  However,  the  press  and  a  station  at 
Ava  quite  alter  the  circumstances.  I  have  been  led  to 
think  and  inquire  more  about  Ava  of  late,  by  a  report  that 
is  in  circulation,  that  I  am  soon  to  be  ordered  up  to  Ava 
myself.  And  the  more  I  think  of  it,  the  more  I  am 
inclined  to  believe,  that  it  is  the  way  in  which  the  gospel 
is  to  be  introduced  into  this  empire.  But  whoever  comes, 
I  hope  they  will  have  more  grace,  more  talent,  and  more 
sweetness  of  disposition  than  I  have.  These  are  three 
essentials  requisite  in  a  missionary,  especially  the  latter,  if 
he  expects  to  be  united  with  others. 

"  The  British  Baptists  have  made  a  noble  beginning  in 
Western  India.  It  remains  for  the  American  Baptists  to 
make  an  attempt  on  the  Eastern  side.  But  we  need  a 


46  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

Carey,  a  Marshman,  and  a  Ward.  As  for  myself,  I  fear 
I  sball  prove  only  a  pioneer,  and  do  a  little  in  preparing 
the  way  for  others.  But  such  as  I  am,  I  feel  devoted  to 
the  work,  and  with  the  grace  of  God  and  the  help  of  the 
Society,  am  resolved  to  persevere  to  the  end  of  my  life." 

The  progress  made  by  Mr. '  Judson,  in  acquiring  a 
knowledge  of  the  language  and  an  influence  over  the 
heathen  mind,  will  be  set  forth  most  clearly  by  a  few 
extracts  from  his  letters  and  journals. 

TO    MR.    WARD. 

Rangoon,  January  18,  1816. 

I  have  finished  the  Ubidhan,  to  my  great  joy.  But 
I  know  but  little  yet  about  the  grammar  and  internal 
structure  of  the  Pali.  My  object  has  been  words  simply, 
without  much  regard  to  their  terminations.  My  collec- 
tion amounts  to  four  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty 
words.  And  here  I  must  let  the  matter  rest  for  the  present, 
being  grieved  at  having  spent  so  much  time  already  on  a 
work  not  directly  Burman.  I  have  heard  of  a  new  Pali 
grammar,  lately  compiled  at  Ava,  said  to  be  greatly  supe- 
rior to  those  now  in  use,  and  have  taken  measures  to 
procure  a  copy.  If  I  should  succeed,  I  shall  probably 
give  a  little  more  attention  to  the  language. 

I  am  now  beginning  to  translate  a  little.  I  am  ex- 
tremely anxious  to  get  some  parts  of  Scripture  into  an 
intelligible  state,  fit  to  be  read  to  Burmans  that  I  meet 


THE   BUKMAN   APOSTLE.  47 

with.  I  have  nothing  yet  that  I  can  venture  to  use.  The 
Portuguese  missionaries  have  left  a  version  of  some  extracts 
of  Scripture,  not  very  badly  executed,  in  regard  to  lan- 
guage, but  full  of  Romish  errors.  This,  however,  will 
afford  me  some  assistance." 

TO    DR.    BALDWIN. 

Rangoon,  August  5,  1816. 

It  is  about  seven  months  since  I  wrote  to  America. 
The  first  three  months  of  this  time,  I  was  employed  on  the 
Burman  language,  in  a  more  interesting  manner  than  I 
had  ever  been.  I  began  to  enter  into  my  studies  with 
such  pleasure  and  spirit,  and  to  make  such  rapid  progress, 
as  encouraged  me  to  hope  that  the  time  was  not  far  distant 
when  I  should  be  able  to  commence  missionary  operations. 
I  was  going  forward  in  a  course  of  most  valuable  Burman 
reading,  and  at  the  same  time  had  begun  to  translate  one 
of  the  gospels  and  to  write  a  view  of  the  Christian  religion, 
in  Burman,  which,  in  imagination,  were  already  finished, 
and  circulating  among  the  natives,  when  all  of  a  sudden, 
in  the  midst  of  the  hot  season,  which  in  this  country  is 
most  severe  during  the  months  of  March  and  April,  I  was 
seized  with  a  distressing  weakness  and  pain  in  my  eyes 
and  head,  which  put  a  stop  to  all  my  delightful  pursuits, 
and  reduced  me  to  a  pitiable  state  indeed.  Since  that 
time,  excepting  at  some  intervals,  I  have  been  unable  to 
read  or  write  or  make  any  exertion  whatever.  Sometimes 


48  ADONIKAM   JUDSON, 

I  have  almost  given  up  the  hope  that  I  should  ever  be  of 
any  more  service ;  sometimes  I  have  been  on  the  point  of 
trying  a  short  voyage  at  sea.  This  last  was  my  intention, 
when  I  heard  of  brother  Hough's  arrival  in  Bengal,  and 
concluded  to  wait  until  he  should  be  settled  here,  when  I 
could  leave  more  conveniently.  But,  thanks  be  to  God, 
it  is  now  ten  days  since  I  have  experienced  a  turn  of  severe 
pain,  though  I  still  feel  great  weakness  in  my  head,  and 
indeed  throughout  my  whole  nervous  system.  I  begin 
now  to  hope  that  I  shall  gradually  recover,  though  I  fear 
I  never  shall  be  as  I  formerly  was. 

During  my  illness,  when  able  to  do  any  thing,  I  have 
employed  myself  in  collecting  what  knowledge  I  have 
hitherto  acquired  of  the  language,  and  putting  it  together 
in  the  shape  of  a  grammar,  that  it  might  not  be  wholly  lost 
to  others.  My  tract  also  is  at  length  ready  for  the  press, 
and  I  send  a  copy  by  this  conveyance  to  Philadelphia, 
which  may  be  some  gratification  to  the  Board.  I  would 
send  a  copy  of  the  grammar  also,  if  I  were  able ;  but  it  is 
too  bulky  to  be  transcribed,  in  my  present  state. 

I  expect  it  will  not  be  long  before  I  shall  be  ordered 
up  to  Ava.  The  press  also,  which  has  just  arrived  from 
Bengal,  will  not  probably  be  allowed  to  stop  long  in  Ran- 
goon. This  will  open  a  wide  field,  and  make  it  necessary 
to  support  two  stations.  I  beg,  therefore,  that  the  Board 
will  endeavor  to  send  out  one  or  two  men  with  brother 
Bice,  or  as  soon  after  as  possible.  ,The  sooner  they  are  on 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  49 

the  ground,  learning  the  language,  the  sooner  they  will  be 
fit  for  service.  I  have  never  before  thought  it  prudent  to 
write  for  more  men,  in  addition  to  those  I  knew  were  des- 
tined to  the  place ;  but  some  favorable  prospects  lately 
begin  to  open ;  and  the  more  I  become  acquainted  with  the 
state  of  things,  the  less  reason  I  have  to  fear  that  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  country  will,  at  present,  oppose  the  work. 

"We  know  not  the  designs  of  God,  in  regard  to  this 
country ;  but  I  cannot  but  have  raised  expectations.  It  is 
true  we  may  have  to  labor  and  wait  many  years  before  the 
blessing  comes ;  but  we  see  what  God  is  doing  in  other  hea- 
then lands,  after  trying  the  faith  and  sincerity  of  his  servants 
some  fifteen  or  twenty  years.  Look  at  Otaheite,  Bengal, 
and  Africa.  And  is  Burmah  to  remain  a  solitary  instance 
of  the  inefficacy  of  prayer,  of  the  forgetfulness  of  a  merciful 
and  faithful  God  ?  Is  it  nothing,  that  an  attempt  is  begun  to 
be  made ;  that,  in  one  instance,  the  language  is  considerably 
acquired  ;  that  a  tract  is  ready  for  publication, which  is  intelli- 
gible and  perspicuous,  and  will  give  the  Burmans  their  first 
ideas  of  a  Saviour  and  the  way  of  salvation ;  that  a  press 
and  types  have  now  arrived,  and  a  printer  is  on  the  way  ; 
that  a  grammar  is  finished  to  facilitate  the  studies  of  others, 
and  a  dictionary  of  the  language  is  in  a  very  forward 
state ;  and  that  the  way  is  now  prepared,  as  soon  as  health 
permits,  to  proceed  slowly  in  the  translation  of  the  New 
Testament  ?  Is  it  nothing  that,  just  at  this  time,  the  mon- 
arch of  the  country  has  taken  a  violent  hate  to  the  priests 
4 


50  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

of  his  own  religion,  and  is  endeavoring  with  all  his  power, 
to  extirpate  the  whole  order ;  at  the  same  time  professing 
to  be  an  inquirer  after  the  true  religion  ?  Is  all  this  to  be 
set  down  a  mere  cypher  ?  It  is  true  that  we  may  desire 
much  more.  But  let  us  use  what  we  have,  and  God  will 
give  us  more.  However,  men  and  money  must  be  forth- 
coming. Work  cannot  be  done  without  men;  and  men 
cannot  work  without  bread ;  nor  can  we  expect  the  ravens 
to  feed  them  in  ordinary  cases. 

"  I  do  not  say,  several  hundred  missionaries  are  needed 
here.  This,  though  true,  would  be  idle  talk.  My  request, 
I  think,  is  modest.  Five  men,  allowing  two  or  three  to 
each  of  the  stations,  is  the  smallest  number  that  will  pos- 
sibly answer." 

Feb.  18,  1817. — -"I  have  just  heard  that  a  person 
whom  we  have  some  time  calculated  on  as  a  letter-carrier 
to  Bengal,  is  unexpectedly  going  off  in  the  course  of  an 
hour  ;  have  therefore  time  only  to  accompany  the  enclosed 
tracts  with  a  line  or  two. 

.  "  We  have  just  begun  to  circulate  these  publications, 
and  are  praying  that  they  may  produce  some  inquiry 
among  the  natives. 

'  "And  here  comes  a  man,  this  moment,  to  talk  about 
religion.  What  shall  I  do  ?  I  will  give  him  a  tract,  to 
keep  him  occupied  a  few  moments,  while  I  finish  this. 
There,  my  friend,  sit  down  and  read  something  that  will 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  51 

carry  you  to  heaven;  if  you  believe  and  receive  the  glorious 
Saviour  therein  exhibited. 

'•'We  are  just  entering  on  a  small  edition  of  Matthew, 
the  translation  of  which  I  lately  commenced.  But  we  are 
in  great  want  of  men  and  money.  Our  hands  are  full 
from  morning  till  night.  I  cannot,  for  my  life,  translate 
as  fast  as  brother  Hough  will  print.  He  has  to  do  all  the 
hard  work  in  the  printing-office,  without  a  single  assistant, 
and  cannot  therefore  apply  himself  to  the  study  of  the 
language,  as  is  desirable.  As  for  me,  I  have  not  an  hour 
to  converse  with  the  natives,  or  go  out  and  make  proclama- 
tion of  the  glorious  gospel.  In  regard  to  money,  we  have 
drawn  more  from  Bengal  than  has  been  remitted  from 
America,  so  that,  were  it  not  for  their  truly  brotherly 
kindness  in  honoring  our  bills  on  credit,  we  should  actually 
starve.  Morover,  an  edition  of  five  thousand  of  the  New 
Testament  will  cost  us  nearly  five  thousand  dollars.  And 
what  are  five  thousand  among  a  population  of  seventeen 
millions,  five  millions  of  whom  can  read  ?  Oh,  that  all  the 
members  of  the  Baptist  Convention  could  live  in  Rangoon 
one  month  !  Will  tne  Christian  world  ever  awake  ?  Will 
means  ever  be  used  adequate  to  the  necessities  of  the 
heathen  world  ?  0  Lord,  send  help.  Our  waiting  eyea 
are  unto  thee  ! " 

MARCH  7, 1817. — "  Since  the  beginning  of  this  year  we 
have  printed  two  tracts ;  the  one,  a  view  of  the  Christian 


52  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

Religion  —  seven  pages,  one  thousand  copies ;  the  other, 
a  Catechism  of  six  pages,  1 2mo  —  three  thousand  copies. 
After  which,  finding  that  we  had  paper  sufficient  for  an 
edition  of  eight  hundred  of  Matthew,  we  concluded  to 
undertake  this  one  gospel,  by  way  of  trial,  and  as  intro- 
ductory to  a  larger  edition  of  the  whole  New  Testament. 
I  am  now  translating  the  eleventh  chapter ;  and,  in  the 
printing-room,  the  third  half  sheet  is  setting  up.  Having 
premised  thus  much  concerning  the  present  posture  of 
our  affairs,  I  proceed  to  mention  the  circumstance  which 
induced  me  to  take  up  my  pen  at  this  time.  I  have  this 
day  been  visited  by  the  first  inquirer  after  religion,  that  I 
have  ever  seen  in  Burmah.  For,  although  in  the  course 
of  the  last  two  years,  I  have  preached  the  gospel  to  many, 
and  though  some  have  visited  me  several  times,  and  con- 
versed on  the  subject  of  religion,  yet  I  have  never  had 
much  reason  to  believe  that  their  visits  originated  in  a 
spirit  of  sincere  inquiry.  Conversations  on  religion  have 
always  been  of  my  proposing ;  and  though  I  have  some- 
times been  encouraged  to  hope  tiiat  truth  had  made 
some  impression,  never,  till  today,  have  I  met  with  one 
who  was  fairly  entitled  to  the  epithet  of  Inquirer. 

"  As  I  was  sitting  with  my  teacher,  as  usual,  a  Burman 
of  respectable  appearance,  and  followed  by  a  servant, 
came  up  the  steps  and  sat  down  by  me.  I  asked  him  the 
usual  question,  Where  he  came  from  ?  to  which  he  gave 
no  explicit  reply;  and  I  began  to  suspect  that  he  had 


THE   BUKMAN   APOSTLE.  53 

come  from  the  government-house,  to  enforce  a  trifling 
request  which  in  the  morning  we  had  declined.  He  soon, 
however,  undeceived  and  astonished  me,  by  asking,  '  How 
long  time  will  it  take  me  to  learn  the  religion  of  Jesus  ?  '  I 
replied,  that  such  a  question  could  not  be  answered.  If 
God  gave  light  and  wisdom,  the  religion  of  Jesus  was  soon 
learned ;  but  without  God  a  man  might  study  all  his  life 
long,  and  make  no  proficiency.  But  how,  continued  I, 
came  you  to  know  anything  of  Jesus  ?  Have  you  been 
here  before?  'No.'  Have  you  seen  any  writing  con- 
cerning Jesus?  '  I  have  seen  two  little  books.'  Who  is 
Jesus  ?  '  He  is  the  Son  of  God  ;  who,  pitying  creatures, 
came  into  this  world,  and  suffered  death  in  their  stead.' 
Who  is  God  ?  '  He  is  a  Being,  without  beginning  or  end, 
who  is  not  subject  to  old  age  and  death,  but  always  is.'  I 
cannot  tell  how  I  felt  at  this  moment.  This  was  the  first 
acknowledgement  of  an  eternal  God,  that  I  had  ever 
heard  from  the  lips  of  a  Burman.  I  handed  him  a  Tract 
and  Catechism,  both  which  he  instantly  recognized,  and 
read  here  and  there,  making  occasional  remarks  to  his 
follower,  such  as,  '  This  is  the  true  God  —  this  is  the  right 
way,'  &c.  I  now  tried  to  tell  him  some  things  about  God 
and  Christ,  and  himself ;  but  he  did  not  listen  with  much 
attention,  and  seemed  anxious  only  to  get  another  book. 
I  had  already  told  him,  two  or  three  times,  that  I  had 
finished  no  other  book ;  but  that  in  two  or  three  months,  I 
would  give  him  a  larger  one,  which  I  was  now  daily 


54  ADONIEAM   JUDSON, 

employed  in  translating.  '  But,'  replied  he,  '  have  you 
not  a  little  of  that  book  done,  which  you  will  graciously 
give  me  now  ? '  And  I,  beginning  to  think  that  God's 
time  is  better  than  man's,  folded  and  gave  him  the  first 
two  half  sheets,  which  contain  the  first  five  chapters  of 
Matthew;  on  which  he  instantly  rose,  as  if  his  business 
was  all  done,  and  having  received  an  invitation  to  come 
again,  took  his  leave." 

TO  MR.  RICE. 

"  I  have  completed  a  grammar  of  the  Burman  language, 
which  I  hope  will  be  useful  to  you ;  also  a  tract  which  I 
hope  to  get  printed  as  soon  as  Mr.  Hough  arrives. 

"If  any  ask  what  success  I  meet  with  among  the 
natives? — tell  them  to  look  at  Otaheite,  where  the  mis- 
sionaries labored  nearly  twenty  years,  and,  not  meeting 
with  the  slightest  success,  began  to  be  neglected  by  all 
the  Christian  world,  and  the  very  name  of  Otaheite  be- 
gan to  be  a  shame  to  the  cause  of  missions ;  and  now  the 
blessing  begins  to  come.  Tell  them  to  look  at  Bengal 
also,  where  Dr.  Thomas  had  been  laboring  seventeen 
years,  that  is,  from  1783  to  1800,  before  the  first  convert, 
Krishno,  was  baptized.  "When  a  few  converts  are  once 
made,  things  move  on.  But  it  requires  a  much  longer 
time  than  I  have  been  here,  to  make  a  first  impression  on 
a  heathen  people.  If  they  ask  again,  what  prospect  of 


THE    BURMAN    APOSTLE.  55 

ultimate  success  is  there  ?  —  tell  them,  as  much  as  that 
there  is  an  Almighty  and  faithful  God  who  will  perform 
his  promises,  and  no  more.  If  this  does  not  satisfy  them, 
beg  them  to  let  me  stay  and  try  it,  and  to  let  you  come, 
and  to  give  us  our  bread  ;  or  if  they  are  unwilling  to  risk 
their  bread  on  such  a  forlorn  hope  as  has  nothing  but  the 
WORD  or  GOD  to  sustain  it,  beg  of  them  at  least  not  to 
prevent  others  from  giving  us  bread.  And  if  we  live 
some  twenty  or  thirty  years,  they  may  hear  from  us  again. 
"  I  have  already  written  many  things  home  about 
Rangoon.  But  one  large  parcel  which  I  forwarded  to 
Bengal  is  lost,  I  fear,  not  having  had  any  accounts  of  it. 
This  climate  is  good,  better  than  any  other  part  of  the 
East.  But  it  is  a  most  filthy,  wretched  place.  Mis- 
sionaries must  not  calculate  on  the  least  comfort,  but  what 
they  find  in  one  another  and  their  work.  However,  if  a 
ship  was  lying  in  the  river,  ready  to  convey  me  to  any 
part  of  the  world  I  should  choose,  and  that  too  with  the 
entire  approbation  of  all  my  Christian  friends,  I  would 
prefer  dying  to  embarking.  This  is  an  immense  field,  and 
since  the  Serampore  missionaries  have  left  it,  it  is  wholly 
thrown  on  the  hands  of  the  American  Baptists.  If  we 
desert  jt,  the  blood  of  the  Burmans  will  be  required 
of  us." 

Mr.  J.'s  first  son  was  born  in  1815,  and  to  him  was  given 
the  name  of  Roger  Williams.     He  lived  eight  months, 


56  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

twined  himself  around  the  hearts  of  his  parents,  and  was 
then  taken  away  by  the  cold  and  iron  hand  of  death. 
His  sainted  mother  says  of  him  :  "  He  was  a  remarkably 
pleasant  child,  —  never  cried  except  when  in  pain,  and, 
what  we  often  observed -to  each  other  was  most  singular, 
he  never,  during  his  little  existence,  manifested  the  least 
anger  or  resentment  at  anything." 

In  December,  1817,  Mr.  Judson  left  the  station  at  Ran- 
goon, to  visit  Chittagong,  to  perfect  himself  in  the  Burman 
language  and  to  restore  his  failing  health.  His  voyage 
was  unsuccessful,  and  many  fears  were  entertained  that 
the  vessel  and  her  precious  cargo  had  gone  beneath  the 
waves.  Soon  after  his  departure,  Mr.  Hough  left  for 
Bengal,  removing  with  him  the  printing-press  which  had 
rendered  so  much  service.  By  this  step,  the  mission  was 
brought  into  a  crippled  condition,  and  the  heart  of  the 
good  man,  who  returned,  as  one  from  the  dead,  just  in 
time  to  bear  alone  the  heavy  sorrow,  was  almost  broken. 
But,  in  September,  1818,  hope  revived,  in  consequence  of 
the  timely  arrival  of  Messrs.  Edward  W.  Wheelock  and 
James  Colman. 

From  this  time,  the  prospects  of  the  mission  were  more 
encouraging.  Though,  in  a  single  year,  Wheelock,  broken 
down  with  consumption,  and  enfeebled  by  arduous  labors, 
started  for  America,  on  the  voyage  to  which  fair  land  he 
found  a  watery  grave,  having,  in  his  feverish  insanity, 
thrown  himself  from  the  window  of  the  cabin  into  the  deep 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  07 

blue  ocean,  whose  waves  closed  over  his  form,  and  he  was 
seen  no  more  ;  though  one  sorrow  came  after  another, 
God  gave  his  toiling  servants  much  reason  for  encourage- 
ment, even  in  the  midst  of  their  most  severe  trials. 

The  event,  long  anticipated,  long  prayed  for,  but  long 
deferred ;  the  event  which  must  give  so  much  joy  to  the 
heart  of  a  Christian  missionary — the  conversion  of  a  dark- 
ened heathen  to  Christ  —  at  length  came.  Moung  Nau, 
an  intelligent  and  respectable  native,  was  led  to  embrace 
Christianity,  and  become  a  faithful  follower  of  the  Lamb. 
He  was  baptized  June  27,  1819;  and,  amid  the  prayers, 
and  smiles,  and  tears  of  that  little  company  of  disciples, 
made  a  good  profession,  which  was  strictly  maintained, 
until  he  was  called  to  join  the  Church  on  high. 

As  the  sun  went  down  on  that  holy  day,  a  heavenly  scene 
was  witnessed.  The  pale  faced  teacher  sat  down  to  the 
communion-table  with  the  converted  heathen,  and,  in  two 
different  languages,  pronounced  the  words  of  the  impressive 
and  significant  service;  and,  doubtless,  the  language  of 
Moung  Nau,  the  first  convert  baptized,  was  some  thing  like 
the  language  used  by  Krishno,  the  first  Hindoo  who  ever 
broke  the  chains  of  idolatry,  and  became  a  follower  of 
Jesus.  This  beautiful  hymn  was  translated  from  the  Ben- 
galee into  the  English  language,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ward  : 

"  0  Thou,  my  soul,  forget  no  more 
The  Friend  who  all  thy  mis'ry  bore ; 


58  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

Let  every  idol  be  forgot, 

But,  O  my  soul,  forget  Him  not. 

Brumhu  *  for  thee  a  body  takes, 
Thy  guilt  assumes,  thy  fetters  breaks, 
Discharging  all  thy  dreadful  debt ;  — 
And  canst  thou  e'er  such  love  forget  ? 

Renounce  thy  works  and  ways  with  grief, 
And  fly  to  this  most  sure  relief; 
Nor  Him  forget,  who  left  his  throne, 
And  for  thy  life  gave  up  his  own. 

Infinite  truth  and  mercy  shine 

In  Him,  and  He  himself  is  thine ; 

And  canst  thou,  then,  with  sin  beset, 

Such  charms,  such  matchless  charms,  forget  ? 

Ah  !  no  —  till  life  itself  depart, 
His  name  shall  cheer  and  warm  my  heart ; 
And,  lisping  this,  from  earth  I  '11  rise, 
And  join  the  chorus  of  the  skies. 

Ah  !  no  —  when  all  things  else  expire, 
And  perish  in  the  general  fire, 
This  name  all  others  shall  survive, 
And  through  eternity  shall  live, 

In  1819,  Mr.  Judson  and  Mr.  Colman  determined  to 
ascend  the  Irrawaddy,  visit  Ava,  and  see  the  monarch  of 
the  Empire,  and  urge  upon  him  the  claims  of  God  and  the 

*  The  Hindoo  name  of  the  One  God. 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  59 

mission.  Taking  such  presents  with  them  as  would  be 
well  calculated  to  dazzle  the  eyes  of  a  rude  and  idolatrous 
king,  they  started  for  the  Burman  capital,  and  on  their 
arrival,  had  an  interview  with  the  proud  monarch.  The 
whole  effort  failed,  and  with  heavy  hearts,  they  returned 
to  their  desolate  homes.  They  were  driven  away  from  the 
feet  of  the  sovereign  in  disgrace,  and  all  their  presents 
spurned  and  scorned. 

Mr.  Judson's  visit  to  Ava  is  thus  described  in  his  jour- 
nal, which  will  be  read  with  much  interest. 

"  DEC.  21,  1819. — After  having  made  arrangements 
for  our  wives '  residence  in  town,  during  our  absence,  broth- 
er Colman  and  myself  embarked.  Our  boat  is  six  feet 
wide  in  the  middle,  and  forty  feet  long.  A  temporary 
deck  of  bamboos  is  laid  throughout,  and  on  the  hinder  part 
of  the  boat,  the  sides  are  raised  with  thin  boards,  and  a 
covering  of  thatch,  and  mats  tied  on,  so  as  to  form  two  low 
rooms,  in  which  we  can  just  sit,  and  lie  down.  Our  com- 
pany consists  of  sixteen,  beside  ourselves ;  ten  row  men  — 
a  steersman  —  a  headman,  whose  name  is  inserted  in  our 
passport,  and  who,  therefore,  derives  a  little  authority  from 
government,  —  a  steward  or  cook  for  the  company,  which 
place  is  filled  by  our  trusty  Moung  Nau  —  our  own  cook 
—  a  Hindoo  washerman  —  and  an  Englishman,  who,  hav- 
ing been  unfortunate  all  his  life,  wishes  to  try  the  service 


ADONIUAM   JUDSON, 

of  bis  Burman  majesty ;  and  this  last  personage  may  be 
called  our  gunner,  be  having  charge  of  several  guns  and 
blunderbusses,  which  are  indispensable  on  account  of  the 
robbers  that  infest  the  river. 

"  We  have  been  much  perplexed,  in  fixing  on  a  present 
for  the  emperor,  without  which  no  person  unauthorized  can 
appear  in  his  presence.  Our  funds  were  evidently  inade- 
quate to  the  purchase  of  articles  which  would  be  valuable 
to  him,  in  a  pecuniary  point  of  view.  When  we  consider- 
ed, also,  that  there  ought  to  be  a  congruity  between  the 
present  and  our  character,  we  selected  that  book,  which  we 
hope  to  be  allowed  to  translate  under  his  patronage  —  the 
BIBLE,  in  six  volumes,  covered  with  gold  leaf,  in  Burman 
style,  and  each  volume  enclosed  in  a  rich  wrapper.  For 
presents  to  other  members  of  government,  we  have  taken 
several  pieces  of  fine  cloth,  and  other  articles. 

"  Thus  manned  and  furnished,  we  pushed  off  from  the 
shores  of  Rangoon.  The  teacher,  Moung  Shwa  Gnong, 
had  not  been  to  see  us  for  several  days,  ashamed  probably 
of  having  declined  accompanying  us  ;  but  just  as  we  were 
pushing  off,  we  saw  his  tall  form  standing  on  the  wharf. 
He  raised  his  hand  to  his  head,  and  bade  us  adieu,  and 
continued  looking  after  the  boat,  until  a  projecting  point 
shut  Rangoon  and  all  its  scenes  from  our  view.  When 
shall  we  redouble  this  little  point  J  Through  what  shall 
we  pass,  ere  the  scene  now  snatched  away  be  re-presented  ! 

"  The  expedition  on  which  we  have  entered,  however  it 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE. 


61 


may  terminate,  is  unavoidably  fraught  with  consequences 
momentous  and  solemn,  beyond  all  conception.  We  are 
penetrating  into  the  heart  of  one  of  the  great  kingdoms  of 
the  world,  to  make  a  formal  offer  of  the  gospel  to  a  despot- 
ic monarch,  and  through  him  to  the  millions  of  his  subjects. 
"  May  the  Lord  accompany  us,  and  crown  our  attempt 
with  the  desired  success,  if  it  be  consistent  with  his  wise 
and  holy  will. 

"JAN  17.  —  Reached  Pah-gan,  a  city  celebrated  in 
Burman  history ;  being,  like  Pyee,  the  seat  of  a  former 
dynasty.  It  is  about  two  hundred  and  sixty  miles  from 
Rangoon. 

"JAN  18.  —  Took  a  survey  of  the  splendid  pagodas, 
and  extensive  ruins,  in  the  environs  of  this  once  famous 
city.  Ascended,  as  far  as  possible,  some  of  the  highest 
edifices,  and  at  the  height  of  one  hundred  feet,  perhaps, 
beheld  all  the  country  around,  covered  with  temples  and 
monuments  of  every  sort  and  size  —  some  in  utter  ruin  — 
some  fast  decaying  —  and  some  exhibiting  marks  of  recent 
attention  and  repair.  The  remains  of  the  ancient  wall  of 
the  city  stretched  beneath  us.  The  pillars  of  the  gates, 
and  many  a  grotesque,  decapitated  relic  of  antiquity,  check- 
ered the  motley  scene.  All  conspired  to  suggest  those  el- 
evated and  mournful  ideas,  which  are  attendant  on  a 
view  of  the  decaying  remains  of  ancient  grandeur ;  and 


62  ADONIKAM   JUDSON, 

though  not  comparable  to  such  ruins  as  those  of  Pal- 
myra and  Balbee,  (as  they  are  represented,)  still,  deeply 
interesting  to  the  antiquary,  and  more  deeply  interesting 
to  the  Christian  missionary.  Here,  about  eight  hundred 
years  ago,  the  religion  of  Boodh  was  first  publicly  recog- 
nized and  established  as  the  religion  of  the  empire.  • 

"Here,  then,  Ah-rah-han,  the  first  Boddhist  apostle  of 
Burmah,  under  the  patronage  of  King  Anan-ra-tha-men-zan, 
disseminated  the  doctrines  of  atheism,  and  taught  his  dis- 
ciples to  pant  after  annihilation,  as  the  supreme  good. 
Some  of  the  ruins  before  our  eyes  were  probably  the  re- 
mains of  pagodas  designed  by  himself.  We  looked  back 
on  the  centuries  of  darkness  that  are  past.  We  looked 
forward,  and  Christian  hope  would  fain  brighten  the  pros- 
pect. Perhaps  we  stand  on  the  dividing  line  of  the  em- 
pires of  darkness  and  light.  0,  shade  of  Shen  Ah-rah- 
han  !  weep  o'er  thy  falling  fanes ;  retire  from  the  scenes 
of  thy  past  greatness.  But  thou  smilest  at  my  feeble  voice. 
Linger  then,  thy  little  remaining  day.  A  voice  mightier 
than  mine,  a  still  small  voice,  will  ere  long  sweep  away 
every  vestige  of  thy  dominion.  The  churches  of  Jesus 
will  soon  supplant  these  idolatrous  monuments,  and  the 
chanting  of  the  devotees  of  Boodh  will  die  away  before 
the  Christian  hymn  of  praise. 

"JAN.  25.  — Passed  Old  Ava,  the  seat  of  the  dynasty 
immediately  preceding  the  present,  and  Tsahgaing,  a  place 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  63 

of  some  note,  distinguished  for  its  innumerable  pagodas, 
and  the  residence  of  one  or  two  late  emperors ;  and  about 
noon,  drew  up  to  0-ding-man,  the  lower-landing  place  of 
New  Ava,  or  Ahmarapoor,  about  three  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  from  Rangoon.  At  our  present  distance  of  nearly 
four  miles  from  the  city,  and  we  cannot  get  nearer  this  sea- 
son, it  appears  to  the  worst  advantage.  We  can  hardly 
distinguish  the  golden  steeple  of  the  palace,  amid  the  glit- 
tering pagodas,  whose  summits  just  suffice  to  mark  the  spot 
of  our  ultimate  destination. 

"  JAN.  27.  — We  left  the  boat,  and  put  ourselves  under 
the  conduct  of  Moung  Yo.  He  carried  us  first  to  Mya-day- 
men,  as  a  matter  of  form ;  and  there  we  learned  that  the 
emperor  had  been  privately  apprized  of  our  arrival,  and 
said,  Let  them  be  introduced.  We  therefore  proceeded  to 
the  palace.  At  the  outer  gate,  we  were  detained  a  long 
time,  until  the  various  officers  were  satisfied  that  we  had  a 
right  to  enter,  after  which  we  deposited  a  present  for  the 
private  minister  of  state,  Moung  Zah,  and  were  ushered 
into  his  apartments  in  the  palace  yard.  He  received  us 
very  pleasantly,  and  ordered  us  to  sit  before  several  govern- 
ors apd  petty  kings,  who  were  waiting  at  his  levee.  We 
here,  for  the  first  time,  disclosed  our  character  and  object : 
told  him,  that  we  were  missionaries,  or  '  propagators  of  re- 
ligion ; '  that  we  -wished  to  appear  before  the  emperor,  arid 
present  our  sacred  books,  accompanied  with  a  petition. 


64  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

He  took  the  petition  into  bis  band,  looked  over  about  balf 
of  it,  and  tben  familiarly  asked  several  questions  about  our 
God  and  our  religion,  to  wbich  we  replied.  Just  at  this 
crisis,  some  one  announced,  that  the  golden  foot  was  about 
to  advance ;  on  which  the  minister  hastily  rose  up,  and 
put  on  his  robes  of  state,  saying,  that  he  must  seize  the 
moment  to  present  us  to  the  emperor.  We  now  found, 
that  we  had  unwittingly  fallen  on  an  unpropitious  time,  it 
being  the  day  of  the  celebration  of  the  late  victory  over 
the  Cassays,  and  the  very  hour  when  His  Majesty  was 
coming  forth  to  witness  the  display  made  on  the  occasion. 
When  the  minister  was  dressed,  he  just  said,  '  How  can 
you  propagate  religion  in  this  empire ?  But  come  along.' 
Our  hearts  sunk  at  these  inauspicious  words.  He  conduct- 
ed us  through  various  splendor  and  parade,  until  we  ascend- 
ed a  flight  of  stairs,  and  entered  a  most  magnificent  hall. 
He  directed  us  where  to  sit,  and  took  his  place  on  one  side  ; 
the  present  was  placed  on  the  other,  and  Moung  Yo,  and 
another  officer  of  Mya-day-men,  sat  a  little  behind.  The 
scene  to  which  we  were  now  introduced  really  surpassed 
our  expectation.  The  spacious  extent  of  the  hall,  the 
number  and  magnitude  of  the  pillars,  the  height  of  the 
dome,  the  whole  completely  covered  with  gold,  presented 
a  most  grand  and  imposing  spectacle.  Very  few  were 
present,  and  those  evidently  were  great  officers  of  state. 
Our  situation  prevented  us  from  seeing  the  further  avenue 
of  the  hall ;  but  the  end  where  we  sat  opened  into  the 


THE   BUKMAN    APOSTLE.  65 

parade,  which  the  emperor  was  about  to  inspect.  We  re- 
mained about  five  minutes,  when  every  one  put  himself 
into  the  most  respectful  attitude,  and  Moung  Yo  whispered, 
that  his  majesty  had  entered.  We  looked  through  the  hall, 
as  far  as  the  pillars  would  allow,  and  presently  caught  sight 
of  this  modern  Ahasuerus.  He  came  forward,  unattended 
—  in  solitary  grandeur  —  exhibiting  the  proud  gait  and 
majesty  of  an  eastern  monarch.  His  dress  was  rich,  but  not 
distinctive ;  and  he  carried  in  his  hand  the  gold-sheathed 
sword,  which  seems  to  have  taken  the  place  of  the  sceptre 
of  ancient  times.  But  it  was  his  high  aspect  and  command- 
ing eye  that  chiefly  riveted  our  attention.  He  strided  on. 
Every  head,  excepting  ours,  was  now  in  the  dust.  We 
remained  kneeling,  our  hands  folded,  our  eyes  fixed  on  the 
monarch.  When  he  drew  near,  we  caught  his  attention. 
He  stopped,  partly  turned  towards  us  :  '  Who  are  these  ?  ' 
The  teachers,  great  king,  I  replied.  '  What,  you  speak 
Burman  —  the  priests  that  I  heard  of  last  night  ?  '  '  When 
did  you  arrive  ? '  '  Are  you  teachers  of  religion  ?  '  'Are 
you  like  the  Portuguese  priest  ? '  'Are  you  married  ?  '  'Why 
do  you  dress  so  ? '  These,  and  some  other  similar  questions, 
we  answered ;  when  he  appeared  to  be  pleased  with  us,  and 
sat  down  on  an  elevated  seat  —  his  hand  resting  on  the  hilt 
of  his  sword,  and  his  eyes  intently  fixed  on  us.  Moung  Zah 
now  began  to  read  the  petition,  and  it  ran  thus :  — 

"  '  The  American  teachers  present  themselves  to  receive 
the  favor  of  the  excellent  king,  the  sovereign  of  land  and 
5 


66  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

sea.  Hearing,  that,  on  account  of  the  greatness  of  the 
royal  power,  the  royal  country  was  in  a  quiet  and  prosper- 
ous state,  we  arrived  at  the  town  of  Rangoon,  within  the 
royal  dominions,  and  having  obtained  leave  of  the  govern- 
or of  that  town,  to  come  up  and  behold  the  golden  face, 
we  have  ascended  and  reached  the  bottom  of  the  golden 
feet.  In  the  great  country  of  America,  we  sustain  the 
character  of  teachers  and  explainers  of  the  contents  of  the 
sacred  Scriptures  of  our  religion.  And  since  it  is  contain- 
ed in  those  Scriptures,  that,  if  we  pass  to  other  countries 
and  preach  and  propagate  religion,  great  good  will  result, 
and  both  those  who  teach  and  those  who  receive  the  religion, 
will  be  freed  from  future  punishment,  and  enjoy,  without! 
decay  or  death,  the  eternal  felicity  of  heaven,  —  that  royal 
permission  be  given,  that  we,  taking  refuge  in  the  royal 
power,  may  preach  our  religion,  in  these  dominions, 
and  that  those  who  are  pleased  with  our  preaching,  and 
wish  to  listen  to  and  be  guided  by  it,  whether  foreign- 
ers or  Burmans,  may  be  exempt  from  government  molesta- 
tion, they  present  themselves  to  receive  the  favor  of  the 
excellent  king,  the  sovereign  of  land  and  sea. ' 

"  The  emperor  heard  this  petition,  and  stretched  out  his 
hand.  Moung  Zah  crawled  forward  and  presented  it. 
His  Majesty  began  at  the  top,  and  deliberately  read  it 
through.  In  the  mean  time,  I  gave  Moung  Zah  an  abridged 
copy  of  the  tract,  in  which  every  offensive  sentence  was 
corrected,  and  the  whole  put  into  the  handsomest  style  and 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  D/ 

dress  possible.  After  the  emperor  had  perused  the  peti- 
tion, he  handed  it  bacu,  without  saying  a  word,  and  took 
the  tract.  Our  hearts  now  rose  to  God  for  a  display  of  his 
grace.  '  0  have  mercy  on  Burmah  !  Have  mercy  on  her 
king ! '  But,  alas  !  the  time  was  not  yet  come .  He  held 
the  tract  long  enough  to  read  the  first  two  sentences,  which 
assert  that  there  is  one  eternal  God,  who  is  independent  of 
the  incidents  of  mortality,  and  that,  beside  Him ,  there  is 
no  God;  and  then,  with  an  air  of  indifference,  perhaps 
disdain,  he  dashed  it  down  to  the  ground !  Moung  Zah 
stooped  forward,  picked  it  up,  and  handed  it  to  us.  Moung 
Yo  made  a  slight  attempt  to  save  us,  by  unfolding  one  of  the 
volumes,  which  composed  our  present,  and  displaying  its 
beauty ;  but  his  majesty  took  no  notice.  Our  fate  was  de- 
cided. After  a  few  moments,  Moung  Zah  interpreted  his 
royal  master's  will,  in  the  following  terms :  '  Why  do 
you  ask  for  such  permission  ?  Have  not  the  Portuguese, 
the  English,  the  Mussulmans,  and  people  of  all  other 
religions,  full  liberty  to  practise  and  worship,  according 
to  their  own  customs  ?  In  regard  to  the  objects  of  your 
petition,  his  majesty  gives  no  order.  In  regard  to  your 
sacred  books,  his  majesty  has  no  use  for  them,  take  them 
away.' 

"  Something  was  now  said  about  brother  Colman's  skill 
in  medicine ;  upon  which  the  emperor  once  more  opened 
his  mouth,  and  said,  Let  them  proceed  to  the  residence  of 
my  physician,  the  Portuguese  priest;  let  him  examine 


68  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

whether  they  can  be  useful  to  me  in  that  line,  and  report 
accordingly.  He  then  rose  from  his  seat,  strided  on  to 
the  end  of  the  hall,  and  there,  after  having  dashed  to  the 
ground  the  first  intelligence  that  he  had  ever  received  of 
the  eternal  God,  his  Maker,  his  Preserver,  his  Judge, 
he  threw  himself  down  on  a  cushion,  and  lay  listening 
to  the  music,  and  gazing  at  the  parade  spread  out  before 
him  ! 

"  As  for  us  and  our  present,  we  were  huddled  up  and 
hurried  away,  without  much  ceremony.  We  passed  out  of 
the  palace  gates,  with  much  more  facility  than  we  entered, 
and  were  conducted  first  to  the  house  of  Mya-day-men. 
There  his  officer  reported  our  reception,  but  in  as  favora- 
ble terms  as  possible  ;  and  as  his  highness  was  not  apprized 
of  our  precise  object,  our  repulse  appeared,  probably  to  him, 
not  so  decisive,  as  we  knew  it  to  be.  We  were  next  con^ 
ducted  two  miles  through  the  sun  and  dust  of  the  streets 
of  Ava,  to  the  residence  of  the  Portuguese  priest.  He 
very  speedily  ascertained,  that  we  were  in  possession  of  no 
wonderful  secret,  which  would  secure  the  emperor  from  all 
disease,  and  make  him  live  for  ever ;  and  we  were  accord- 
ingly allowed  to  take  leave  of  the  reverend  inquisitor,  and 
retreat  to  our  boat. 

"At  this  stage  of  the  business,  notwithstanding  the  decid- 
ed repulse  we  had  received,  we  still  cherished  some  hope  of 
ultimately  gaining  our  point.  We  regretted,  that  a  sudden 
interruption  had  prevented  our  explaining  our  objects  to 


THE   BPRMAN   APOSTLE.  0» 

Moung  Zah,  in  that  familiar  and  confidential  manner  which 
we  had  intended ;  and  we  determined,  therfore,  to  make 
another  attempt  upon  him  in  private. 

"  JAN.  28.  — Early  in  the  morning,  we  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  our  friend  Mr.  Gauger  coming  to  our  boat.  It 
may  not  be  amiss  to  mention,  that  he  is  the  collector,  who 
was  chiefly  instrumental  in  relieving  us  from  the  exorbi- 
tant demand,  which,  a  few  months  ago,  was  made  upon  us 
in  Rangoon.  He  now  told  us  that  he  had  heard  of  our 
repulse,  but  would  not  have  us  give  up  all  hope ;  that  he 
was  particularly  acquainted  with  Moung  Zah,  and  would 
accompany  us  to  his  house,  a  little  before  sunset,  at  an  hour 
when  he  was  accessible.  This  precisely  accorded  with  our 
intentions. 

"  We  went  to  the  house  of  Moung  Zah,  some  way  be- 
yond the  palace.  He  received  us  with  great  coldness  and 
reserve.  Mr.  Gauger  urged  every  argument  that  we  sug- 
gested, and  some  others.  He  finally  stated  that,  if  we  ob- 
tained the  royal  favor,  other  foreigners  would  come  and 
settle  in  the  empire,  and  trade  would  be  greatly  benefited. 
This  argument  alone  seemed  to  have  effect  on  the  mind 
of  the  minister,  and,  looking  out  from  the  cloud  which  cov- 
ered his  face,  he  vouchsafed  to  say,  that,  if  we  would  wait 
some  time,  he  would  endeavour  to  speak  to  his  majesty 
about  us.  From  this  remark  it  was  impossible  to  derive 
any  encouragement,  and  having  nothing  farther  to  urge,  we 


70  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

left  Mr.  Gauger,  and,  bowing  down  to  the  ground,  took 
leave  of  this  great  minister  of  state,  who,  under  the  empe- 
ror, guides  the  movements  of  the  whole  empire. 

"  It  was  now  evening.  We  had  four  miles  to  walk  by 
moonlight.  Two  of  our  disciples  only  followed  us.  They 
had  pressed  as  near  as  they  ventured  to  the  door  of  the 
hall  of  audience,  and  listened  to  words  which  sealed  the 
the  extinction  of  their  hopes  and  ours.  For  some  time  we 
spoke  not. 

'  Some  natural  tears  we  dropt,  but  wiped  them  soon. 
The  world  was  all  before  us,  where  to  choose 
Our  place  of  rest,  and  Providence  our  guide. ' 

And,  as  our  first  parents  took  their  solitary  way  through 
Eden,  hand  in  hand,  so  we  took  our  way  through  this  great 
city,  which,  to  our  late  imagination,  seemed  another  Eden  ; 
but  now,  through  the  magic  touch  of  disappointment,  seem- 
ed blasted  and  withered,  as  if  smitten  by  the  fatal  influence 
of  the  cherubic  sword. 

"Arrived  at  the  boat,  we  threw  ourselves  down,  com- 
pletely exhausted  in  body  and  mind.  For  three  days,  we 
had  walked  eight  miles  a  day,  the  most  of  the  way  in  the 
heat  of  the  sun,  which,  even  at  this  season,  in  the  interior 
of  these  countries,  is  exceedingly  oppressive ;  and  the  re- 
sult of  our  travels  and  toils  has  been  —  the  wisest  and  best 
possible  —  a  result  which,  if  we  could  see  the  end  from  the 
beginning,  would  call  forth  our  highest  praise.  0  slow  of 


THE   BURMAN  APOSTLE.  71 

heart  to  believe  and  trust  in  the  constant  presence  and  over- 
ruling agency  of  our  own  Almighty  Savior ! 

"FEB.  12. — Reached  Pyee,  two  hundred  and  thirty 
miles  from  Ava ;  our  descent  on  the  river  being,  of  course 
much  more  rapid  than  our  ascent.  Here,  to  our  great  sur- 
prise, we  met  with  the  teacher,  Moung  Shwa  Gnong.  I 
hinted  our  intention  of  leaving  Rangoon,  since  the  emperor 
had  virtually  prohibited  the  propagation  of  the  Christian 
religion  ;  and  no  Burman,  under  such  circumstances,  would 
dare  to  investigate,  much  less  to  embrace  it.  This  intelli- 
gence evidently  roused  him,  and  showed  us  that  we  had 
more  interest  in  his  heart  than  we  thought.  '  Say  not  so,' 
said  he ;  '  there  are  some  who  will  investigate,  notwithstand- 
ing ;  and  rather  than  have  you  quit  Rangoon,  I  will  go  my- 
self to  the  Mangen  teacher,  and  have  a  public  dispute. 
I  know  I  can  silence  him.  I  know  the  truth  is  on  my 
side.'  Ah,  said  I,  you  may  have  a  tongue  to  silence  him, 
but  he  has  a  pair  of  fetters  and  an  iron  mall  to  tame  you. 
Remember  that.  This  was  the  substance  of  our  conversa- 
tion, though  much  more  prolix ;  and  he  left  us  about  nine 
o'clock  at  night. 

"  This  interview  furnished  matter  for  conversation  till 
past  midnight,  and  kept  us  awake  much  of  the  remainder 
of  the  night.  Perhaps  on  arriving  in  Rangoon,  we  shall 
find  the  disciples  firm,  and  some  others  seriously  inquir- 
ing. Perhaps  we  shall  discover  some  appearances  of  a 


72  ADONIBAM   JUDSON, 

movement  of  the  divine  Spirit.  Perhaps  the  Lord  Jesus 
has  a  few  chosen  ones  whom  he  intends  to  call  in,  under 
the.rnost  unpropitious  and  forbidding  circumstances.  Per- 
haps he  intends  to  show,  that  it  is  not  by  might,  nor  by 
power,  but  by  his  Spirit.  In  a  word,  perhaps  in  the  last 
extremity,  God  will  help  us.  Ought  we,  then,  hastily  to 
forsake  the  place  ?  Ought  we  to  desert  those  of  the  disci- 
ples that  we  cannot  take  with  us,  and  some  others,  for  whom 
perhaps  Christ  died,  in  such  an  interesting  crisis  of  their 
fate  ?  Would  it  be  rashness  to  endeavor  to  trust  in  God, 
and  maintain  the  post,  though  disallowed  by  government, 
and  exposed  to  persecution  ?  But  again,  can  we  bear  to  see 
our  dear  disciples  in  prison,  in  fetters,  under  torture  ?  Can 
we  stand  by  them,  and  encourage  them  to  bear  patiently 
the  rage  of  their  persecutors  ?  Are  we  willing  to  participate 
with  them  ?  Though  the  spirit  may  be  sometimes  almost 
willing,  is  not  the  flesh  too  weak  ? 

"  Pondering  on  such  topics  as  these,  a  little  ray  of  hope 
seemed  to  shine  out  of  the  darkness  of  our  despair.  But 
it  was  not  like  the  soft  beam  of  the  moon,  which  kindly 
shines  on  the  path  of  the  benighted  pilgrim,  and  guides  him 
to  a  place  of  shelter.  It  was  rather  like  the  angry  gleam  of 
lightning,  which,  while  for  a  moment  it  illumimes  the 
landscape  around,  discloses  the  black  magazines  of  heav- 
en's artillery,  and  threatens  death  to  the  unwary  gazer. 

"  FEB.  18.  — Arrived  in  Rangoon. 


THE   BUBMAN   APOSTLE. 


73 


"  FEB.  24.  — We  have  spent  three  or  four  days  in  in- 
quiring about  Chittagong,  and  the  prospect  of  getting  a  pas- 
sage directly  thither,  or  by  the  way  of  Bengal. 

"  This  evening  Moung  Bya  came  up  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  Moung  Myat-yah,  who  has  lived  in  our  yard  several 
months,  and  formerly  attended  worship  in  the  zayat.  I 
have  come,  said  Moung  Bya,  to  petition  that  you  will  not 
leave  Rangoon  at  present.  I  think,  replied  I,  that  it  is 
useless  to  remain,  under  present  circumstances.  We  can 
not  open  the  zayat ;  we  cannot  have  public  worship ;  no 
Burman  will  dare  to  examine  this  religion ;  and  if  none 
examine,  none  can  be  expected  to  embrace  it.  '  Teacher,' 
said  he,  '  my  mind  is  distressed ;  I  can  neither  eat  nor 
sleep,  since  I  find  you  are  going  away.  I  have  been 
around  among  those  who  live  near  us,  and  I  find  some  who 
are  even  now  examining  the  new  religion.  Brother  Myat- 
yah  is  one  of  them,  and  he  unites  .with  me  in  my  petitions. 
(Here  Myat-yah  assented  that  it  was  so.)  Do  stay  with 
us  a  few  months.  Do  stay  till  there  are  eight  or  ten  disci- 
ples. Then  appoint  one  to  be  teacher  of  the  rest ;  I  shall 
not  be  concerned  about  the  event ;  though  you  should  leave 
the  country,  the  religion  will  spread  of  itself.  The  empe- 
ror himself  cannot  stop  it.  But  if  you  go  now,  and  take 
the  two  disciples  that  can  follow,  I  shall  be  left  alone.  I 
cannot  baptize  those  who  may  wish  to  embrace  this,  religion. 
What  can  I  do  ?  '  Moung  Nau  came  in,  and  expressed 
himself  in  a  similar  way.  He  thought  that  several  would 


74  ADONIRAM    JUDSON, 

yet  become  disciples,  in  spite  of  all  opposition,  and  that  it 
was  best  for  us  to  stay  awhile.  We  could  not  restrain  our 
tears  at  hearing  all  this ;  and  we  told  them  that,  as  we 
lived  only  for  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  Christ  among 
the  Burmans,  if  there  was  any  prospect  of  success  in  Ran- 
goon, we  had  no  desire  to  go  to  another  place,  and  would, 
therefore,  reconsider  the  matter." 

We  here  have  an  admirable  specimen  of  the  courage 
of  the  missionary,  in  thus  boldly  and  fearlessly  presenting 
himself  before  a  heathen  monarch,  to  ask  permission  to 
plant  the  Gospel  throughout  his  dominions.  That  mon- 
arch was  surrounded  by  his  priests,  and  the  altars  of  his 
false  gods,  and  by  his  ministers  of  state,  who  were  all  de- 
voted to  the  service  of  Boodhism,  and  active  in  sustaining 
it.  They,  of  course,  would  oppose  the  religion  of  Christ, 
which  if  successful  must  overturn  their  temples  and  altars, 
destroy  their  system  of  idolatry,  change  the  whole  aspect 
of  government,  and  affect  seriously,  for  good  or  evil,  all  the 
departments  of  the  state.  But  he  went  to  Ava  notwith- 
standing all  the  discouraging  and  appaling  features  of  the 
case.  He  felt  somewhat  as  Paul  felt,  when  called  to 
Rome,  to  preach  to  the  enemies  of  the  cross.  Stripes,  and 
chains,  and  prisons,  and  death  might  await  him,  but  he  must 
go.  The  voice  of  duty,  the  dictates  of  conscience  and  benev- 
olence he  must  obey.  The  same  God  who  had  called  him 
out  of  the  dark  shades  of  infidelity,  who  had  inspired  him 


THE   BUKMAN   APOSTLE.  75 

with  the  great  idea  of  a  missionary  life,  who  had  brought 
him  across  the  ocean  in  safety,  was  able  to  deliver  him,  and 
even  if  he  suffered  martyrdom  at  the  foot  of  the  golden 
throne,  he  could  trust  in  the  same  Deliverer  and  Friend. 

His  unwavering  confidence  in  the  success  of  missions 
was  clearly  evinced.  On  his  way,  and  as  he  arrived  with- 
in sight  of  the  imperial  city,  and  saw  on  every  side,  the 
pagodas  and  temples,  he  could  invoke  the  shade  of  the 
mighty  Shen  Ah-rah-han,  and  bid  him  weep  over  his  fall- 
ing fanes,  and  assure  him,  that  the  dominion  of  his  delu- 
sive religion  was  nearly  at  an  end.  And  doubtless  through 
all  the  course  of  Dr.  Judson,  God  has  given  him  a  faith 
which  is  not  usually  conferred  upon  his  brethren.  He 
has  ever  seemed  to  walk  in  a  clearer,  purer  light  than  that 
which  encircles  most  of  the  ministers  of  Jesus.  From  the 
day  when  with  Mills  and  Newell  he  was  seen  kneeling  in 
the  field  in  Andover  and  consecrating  himself  to  the  holy 
cause,  down  to  the  hour  of  his  decease,  his  life  has  borne 
more  of  the  impressions  of  exalted  faith,  than  almost  any 
other  man  of  our  times.  When  all  others  have  bowed  in 
discouragement,  and  all  hearts  yielded  to  the  heavy  pres- 
sure of  adverse  and  calamitous  considerations,  his  eye  dis- 
cerned amid  the  gloom,  signs  of  coming  good.  The  prom- 
ises of  God,  made  so  solemnly  and  so  often  repeated,  were 
enough  to  sustain  him  in  the  dark  hours  which  came  upon 
those  who  were  first  sent  out.  His  faith  wavers  not  under 
any  circumstances.  Whether  taken  a  prisoner  by  the 


76  ADONIEAM   JUDSON, 

French  while  on  his  way  to  England  for  aid,  or  tossed  and 
plunged  upon  the  ocean,  or  driven  from  India  by  the  gov- 
ernment, or  wearied  and  fainting  at  Rangoon,  or  impris- 
oned at  Ava,  or  weeping  over  the  grave  of  his  first  love  at 
Amherst,  or  burying  the  form  of  his  second  companion  in 
the  hard  cold  bosom  of  St.  Helena,  or  lying  on  his  own 
death  bed,  his  soul  is  always  cheered  by  the  holy  declara- 
tion, "  Lo  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end." 

Nor  is  it  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  the  great  head  of 
the  Church,  had  given  him  a  clearer  revelation  of  his  holy 
purpose,  than  we  have  yet  received.  Selected,  and  ap- 
pointed  to  a  specific  work,  and  sent  out  by  God  as  a  pio- 
neer in  the  service  of  the  church,  it  seems  to  have  been  in 
accordance  with  the  Divine  plan,  that  he  should  have  a 
broader  and  more  comprehensive  view,  not  only  of  the 
vast  fields  to  be  cultivated,  and  the  horrid  degradation  of 
the  people,  but  also  of  the  glorious  changes  which  are  to 
transform  this  earth  from  a  Golgotha  of  wickedness  to  a 
garden  blooming  with  the  rose  of  Sharon,  from  the  shades 
of  sin  and  wickedness,  and  the  wiles  of  crime  and  woe,  to 
the  residence  of  holy  men,  and  the  songs  of  salvation  and 
eternal  life. 

So  much  were  these  servants  of  God  perplexed,  that  it 
was  at  once  decided  that  Mr.  Colman  should  seek  some 
new  field  of  labor,  while  Mr.  Judson  remained  at  Rangoon 
to  comfort  the  hearts  of  the  three  converts  who  had  broken 
loose  from  heathen  folly,  and  given,  their  hearts  to  God. 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  77 

But  God  was  more  gracious  than  his  people  supposed,  and 
within  a  few  months  Mr. Judson  led  seven  others  down 
into  the  waters  of  baptism. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Judson  at  R.  was  rendered  lonely  in 
1821,  by  the  departure  of  Mrs.  J.  for  the  United  States. 
Her  object  was  two-fold.  Her  health  had  been  injured  by 
continued  labor,  and  she  needed  a  season  of  rest  and  recre- 
ation to  restore  it.  Besides  this,  she  desired  to  awaken 
an  interest  on  behalf  of  missions,  among  the  women  of 
America.  This  she  was  successful  in  accomplishing.  By 
her  letters  and  addresses  she  aroused  and  kindled  to  a 
flame  the  decaying  embers  of  missionary  interest,  and  her 
visit  will  long  be  remembered  with  pleasure  by  those  who 
were  enabled  to  form  an  acquaintance  with  her. 

In  1821,  Jonathan  Price,  M.  D.  and  his  wife  were  sent 
out  to  labor  with  Mr.  Judson.  Their  arrival  in  December 
caused  great  joy  in  the  heart  of  the  solitary  missionary, 
who  welcomed  them  with  gladness.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Hough 
returned  from  Serampore,  with  his  printing-press,  and  the 
prospects  of  the  mission  appeared  still  more  encouraging. 

In  1823,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade  were  sent  out,  and,  on 
their  arrival,  it  was  decided  that  Mr.  Judson  should  pro- 
ceed to  Ava,  to  attempt  a  mission  there  beneath  the  very 
shadow  of  the  throne.  This  measure  originated  in  the  fact 
that  Dr.  Price  was  received  at  the  Court  with  much  favor 
on  account  of  his  medical  skill,  and  it  was  determined  to 
take  advantage  of  this  circumstance  to  advance,  in  that 


78  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

idolatrous  city,  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer.  The  work  at 
Ava  commenced  well,  and  continued  well  until  the  war 
with  the  English  broke  out,  and  most  serious  troubles  en- 
sued. At  the  onset  the  missionaries  at  Ava  and  Rangoon 
were  seized,  cast  into  prison,  and  treated  with  the  most  hor- 
rible cruelty.  Mrs.  Judson,  who  had  returned  from  Amer- 
ica a  short  time  before,  exerted  herself  to  obtain  their  re- 
lease, but  all  in  vain.  Her  applications  to  the  inferior 
officers  were  all  fruitless,  and  all  she  could  do,  was  to  visit 
the  wretched  prisoners  in  their  distress,  and,  to  a  very  lim- 
ited extent,  relieve  their  wants.  After  the  most  unparal- 
leled sufferings,  they  were  released,  and  permitted  to  leave 
the  capital  of  the  golden  monarch  ;  and  by  invitation  of 
Mr.  Crawford,  the  English  commissioner,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Judson  took  up  their  residence  at  Amherst,  a  town  which 
was  designed  to  be  the  centre  of  English  influence  in  the 
Burman  Empire. 

The  following  account  of  the  imprisonment  of  the  be- 
loved servants  of  God,  will  be  read  with  interest.  It  is 
from  the  pen  of  one  who  endured  those  horrid  cruelties, 
and  drank  the  cup  of  suffering. 

"  The  news  of  the  fall  of  Rangoon,  reached  Ava  on 
Lord's  day,  May  23d,  1824,  when  nothing  could  exceed 
the  rage  and  bustle  of  the  population.  A  considerable 
force  was  hurried  off  the  next  morning,  under  the  Kee 
Woongee,  with  particular  instructions  to  make  all  imagina- 


THE   EUKMAN   APOSTLE.  79 

ble  haste,  lest  the  audacious  marauders  should  escape  the 
vengeance  in  store  for  them.  On  Monday  morning,  about 
25  gold  boats,  each  mounting  a  small  piece  of  artillery, 
and  well  provided  with  muskets,  started  with  orders  to 
raise  the  whole  country  if  necessary,  to  drive  out  the  in- 
sidious banditti,  who  had  come  thus  unawares  upon  an  un- 
offending town.  The  current  of  feeling  was  now  so  strong 
against  the  English  residents,  that  Mr.  Gouger  sent  over 
to  me  to  enquire,  if  it  would  not  be  more  safe  for  him  to 
remove  to  Sagaing,  and  put  up  with  me  out  of  the  way  of 
the  popular  fury.  I  informed  him  I  should  be  very  happy 
to  entertain  him  at  any  other  time,  but  at  present,  I  thought 
our  herding  together  would  only  excite  suspicion,  and  has- 
ten the  ruin  of  us  both. 

"  For  three  or  four  successive  days,  we  were  informed 
of  repeated  attempts  to  get  permission  to  lay  violent  hands 
upon  us.  But  Mr.  Laird  as  often  defeated  them,  by 
means  of  his  great  influence  with  the  king.  Finally  our 
friend,  a  mussulman,  with  a  long  beard,  went  in  to  make  a 
particular  complaint  against  us.  This  I  was  informed  of 
on  Saturday  noon,  while  on  my  way  to  the  house  of  Prince 
M.  On  my  return  I  met  Mr.  Gr's.  horse  without  the  rider, 
and  was  then  made  acquainted  with  the  too  fatal  success  of 
the  diabolical  accuser.  Fear  for  my  own  safety,  now  suc- 
ceeded that  of  sympathy  for  my  friend,  and  I  firmly  ex- 
pected on  my  arrival,  to  find  a  band  of  ruffians  to  take 
charge  of  my  person  also.  But  my  time  was  not  yet. 


80  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

"  On  the  following  day,  however,  while  absorbed  in  deep 
musing,  with  my  face  towards  the  door,  I  was  roused  by 
the  dread  approach  of  a  constable.  You  are  ordered  to 
the  Palace,  was  the  appaling  signal  (I  thought)  of  my 
fate.  I  arose,  followed  the  messenger  with  fearful  forebod- 
ings, was  ushered  into  the  secret  council  chamber ;  pres- 
ently a  writer  of  the  privy  council  appeared  and  questioned 
me  as  to  my  country,  my  calling,  my  acquaintance  with 
Mr.  T.,  Mr.  M.  A.,  Mr.  R.,  &c.  of  Rangoon,  and  finally, 
whether  I  had  seen  a  bundle  of  newspapers,  brought  up  to 
Ava,  by  Capt.  L.,  and  said  to  contain  an  account  of  the 
intended  attack  on  Rangoon ;  my  reply  in  the  affirmative 
to  this  last  query,  decided  my  crime,  and  I  was  remanded 
to  the  guard  room,  when  Mr.  J.  was  called  and  questioned 
on  the  same  points;  likewise  Mr.  G.,  Mr.  R.,and  Mr.  L., 
by  whose  separate  examinations  it  came  out  too  plain  to  be 
denied,  that  the  said  five  white  men  were  in  the  dangerous 
practice  of  visiting  at  each  other's  houses,  eating  and  talk- 
ing together,  and  that  each  and  every  one  of  the  said  five, 
together  with  Mr.  Arrekill,  an  Armenian,  and  Mr.  Con- 
stantine,  a  Greek,  were  past  all  doubt  acquainted  with  and 
communicated  information  unto  all  or  most  of  the  foreign- 
ers in  Rangoon,  who  had  all  unequivocally  gone  over  to  the 
side  of  the  enemy.  These  facts  being  plainly  established, 
the  said  prisoners  were  remanded  into  close  custody,  in 
separate  guard  rooms,  near  the  secret  council  chamber,  with 
the  exception  of  myself  and  Dr.  J.,  who  were  permitted  to 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  81 

return  to  our  houses,  with  orders  to  be  ready  against  we 
might  be  wanted. 

"  On  the  8th  of  June  an  order  was  given  '  to  keep  safe 
all  the  foreigners.'  On  this  very  morning  I  had  unwit- 
tingly resolved  to  visit  once  more  our  friend  Prince  M. 
On  my  way  I  heard  a  friendly  voice  calling  out  to  me  ; 
when  turning  aside,  I  found  it  to  be  no  other  than  my  first 
and  oldest  friend  Moung  yay,  the  keeper  of  the  king's  ward- 
robe. He  just  gave  me  a  hint  of  my  danger,  and  then 
hurried  away.  Darkly  lowering  seemed  my  prospect,  yet 
I  pushed  on  to  the  house  of  Prince  M. ;  but  all  his  kind 
soothing  could  not  dissipate  the  cloud  which  hung  like  night 
upon  me.  While  I  was  sitting  here  the  five  white  men 
were  taken  from  the  king's  guard  room,  stripped  of  all  their 
articles  of  clothing,  except  the  shirt  and  pantaloons,  drag- 
ged out  to  the  Loots  or  House  of  Lords,  thence  hurried 
forward  to  the  Court  House  in  the  greatest  imaginable  sus- 
pense, and  delivered  over  to  the  keeper  of  the  king's  pris- 
on, called  by  way  of  distinction,  the  '  Stick  at  nothing,  ' 
or  'Dreadnought.'  (Let  ma  gune.)  Here  they  were  each 
honored  with  three  pairs  of  chains  and  strung  on  a  pole 
together.  Mr.  J.  was  just  about  preparing  for  dinner 
when  a  number  of  people  entered  his  ground.  On  asking 
two  or  three  women,  (who  were  hastily  mounting  his  ve- 
randah,) what  they  wanted,  they  replied  they  had  come  to 
look  on ;  in  a  moment  the  verandah  was  thronged,  and  a 
rough  voice  called  out  for  the  teacher.  Mr.  J.  came  for- 

6 


82  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

ward,  and  without  any  warning,  was  immediately  seized, 
thrown  on  the  ground,  and  his  arms  tied  with  all  the  force 
the  barbarian  was  capable  of.  Mrs.  J.  came  forward  (in 
agony  better  to  be  conceived  than  described,)  and  offered 
to  give  money  to  have  the  rope  eased  off  her  husband. 
But  the  wretch,  instead  of  listening  to  the  grief-impassion- 
ed request,  cried  out,  She  is  also  a  white  foreigner,  tie  her 
too.  For  a  moment  Mr.  J.  's  own  exquisite  torment  was  for- 
gotten in  the  heart-rending  apprehension,  that  Mrs.  J.  was 
about  to  undergo  the  same  cruel  indignity.  The  assurance, 
however,  that  this  was  not  the  case,  softened  the  pain  oc- 
casioned by  the  violence  offered  in  dragging  him  roughly 
away  towards  the  town,  so  tightly  bound  that  he  could  not 
half  draw  in  his  breath.  At  a  quarter  of  a  mile's  distance, 
he  was  again  thrown  down  in  the  street,  the  cords  drawn 
more  tightly,  with  repeated  strokes  of  the  knee  on  his  back, 
so  as  almost  to  induce  fainting,  and  money  demanded  in 
order  to  their  being  loosened. 

"  A  Christian  native  who  had  followed  at  a  distance,  now 
came  forward  and  offered  to  go  back  for  the  money,  but 
before  his  return,  the  anguish  endured  was  so  great,  that 
Mr.  J.  was  obliged  to  appeal  to  the  numerous  bystanders. 
—  '  Is  there  no  one  who  knows  me  ;  is  there  no  one  who 
will  be  my  security  for  the  money,  no  one  who  pities  me  ? 
I  am  a  priest,  and  though  a  foreign  one,  deserve  not  such 
indignity,  such  torture.'  But  none  stepped  forward,  and 
the  cruel  monster  persisted  in  tightening  the  cords  until 


THE   BUSMAN   APOSTLE.  83 

the  arrival  of  Moung  Ing  with  ten  ticals  of  pure  silver, 
when  his  arms  were  somewhat  relieved,  so  as  to  allow  a 
more  free  respiration,  and  he  was  again  hurried  forward  a 
distance  of  nearly  two  miles  to  the  prison  house,  and  there, 
after  being  fettered,  strung  on  the  same  bamboo  with  the 
preceding  five  unhappy  men. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  I  had  left  the  house  of  Prince  M.  at 
8  P.  M.  having  just  missed  the  horrid  sight  of  Mr.  J.'s 
agony,  and  had  reached  the  river  side  with  a  heavy  heart, 
which  was  not  at  all  lightened  by  a  black  look  I  there  re- 
ceived from  the  chief  man  of  the  golden  navy,  who  had  on 
all  previous  occasions  met  me  with  a  smile.  I  passed  over 
to  Sagaing,  fully  impressed  with  the  idea  that  something 
dreadful  was  approaching,  though  I  knew  not  what.  Hav- 
ing arrived  at  home,  the  sight  of  my  dear  wife  and  child 
was  painful  in  the  extreme.  I  dared  communicate  nothing 
of  my  apprehensions,  but  after  a  slight  attempt  to  dine, 
hurried  to  the  top  of  my  house  and  endeavoured  alone  to 
compose  myself ;  but  all  in  vain.  At  dusk  I  was  joined  by 
Mrs.  P.  and  child ;  we  had  taken  only  a  few  turns,  when 
a  dreadful  noise  was  heard  below  ;  knowing  too  well  the 
cause  of  the  uproar,  I  hastened  down,  and  was  informed 
that  more  than  fifty  men  were  preparing  to  surround  and 
take  possession  of  my  house.  My  scattered  senses  seemed 
to  collect  of  themselves ;  I  saw  the  long  dreaded  hour  had 
arrived,  and  I  was  myself  again  —  yea  more,  I  was  or 
seemed  to  myself  to  be  supernaturally  assisted ;  I  looked 


84  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

down  on  the  treacherous  breach  of  all  formerly  plighted 
royal  faith  ;  I  felt  a  martyr,  and  determined  to  shrink  from 
nothing  \vhich  was  before  me.  In  answer  to  loud  demands 
from  without,  I  opened  the  door,  was  ordered  immediately 
to  sit  down  on  the  floor,  to  give  an  inventory  of  my  effects, 
to  shut  and  bar  the  doors  and  windows,  and  follow  them. 
Having  committed  all  to  the  care  of  my  wife,  who  by  this 
time  had  found  her  way  to  me,  I  commended  her  to  our 
common  Protector,  and  took  my  leave  of  my  newly-built 
mansion,  never  expecting  to  enter  it  more.  My  conduct- 
ors attempted  at  first  to  extort  money,  by  threatening  to 
tie  my  arms,  but  finding  me  ready  to  submit  to  any  thing, 
they  betrayed  their  want  of  any  warrant  to  use  me  rough- 
y ;  and  changing  their  line  of  conduct,  immediately  began 
to  treat  me  uncommonly  well,  and  actually  carried  an  um- 
brella over  me  to  guard  me  from  the  rain,  all  the  way  to 
the  government  house.  Arrived  here,  the  great  man  said 
I  was  called  for  to  be  asked  some  questions  he  supposed  ; 
the  real  cause  he  knew  not,  but  we  must  repair  to  the 
Court  House. 

"  Hand  in  hand  wo  proceeded  to  the  Yong  dau,  or 
Court  House,  where  I  was  delivered  over  to  the  Ava  town 
clerk,  and  heard  the  laconic  order,  '  P.  and  J.  catch,  and 
put  in  prison.'  My 'heart  sunk  at  the  appaling  words ; 
still  they  seemed  repeated ;  again  and  again  I  repeated  them 
to  myself,  till  the  town  clerk  roused  me  from  my  reverie, 
by  diving  into  my  pockets,  and  securing  every  thing  mov- 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  85 

able  about  me.  The  head  executioner  now  received  a 
•wink,  which  authorized  him  to  seize  me  rather  rudely  by 
the  shoulder,  and  caused  me  to  descend  without  the  trouble 
of  seeking  the  stairs.  I  was  now  led  at  a  quick  pace  across 
the  street,  ushered  into  a  small  crowded  compound  or  yard, 
and  ordered  to  sit.  I  made  towards  a  bench,  but  was 
pushed  off  it.  I  then  seated  myself  on  a  small  stone  slab, 
which  I  soon  found  was  meant  for  another  purpose.  For 
while  undergoing  an  examination  as  to  my  name,  place  of 
abode,  occupation,  &c. ,  a  man  with  his  hands  full  of  irons, 
came  forward,  and  rudely  shoving  me  off  the  stone,  seized 
one  of  my  legs,  and  began  knocking  on  one  pair  of  fetters 
after  another,  until  I  thought  he  was  never  going  to  stop. 
"  My  heart  now  died  within  me.  I  looked  around  ;  all 
was  gloomy  and  dark  and  silent,  except  the  dull  clanking 
of  chains.  Four  or  five  young  women  in  a  like  predica- 
ment manifested  some  pity ;  but  all  else  was  savage,  unfeel- 
ing complacency.  My  three  chains  were  no  sooner  well 
fastened  on,  than  I  was  ordered  roughly  to  go  in.  A  little 
bamboo  door  opened,  and  I  rose  to  go  towards  it.  But  Oh, 
who  can  describe  my  sensations  !  shackled  like  a  common 
felon,  in  the  care  of  hangmen,  the  offscouring  of  the  coun- 
try, turned  like  a  dog  into  his  kennel,  my  wife,  my  dear 
family,  left  to  suffer  alone  all  the  rudeness  such  wretches 
are  capable  of.  The  worst,  however,  was  yet  to  come  ;  for 
making  the  best  of  my  way  up  the  high  step,  I  was  ushered 
into  the  grand  apartment ;  horror  of  horrors,  what  a  sight ! 


86  ADONIRAM   JUDSOX, 

never  to  my  dying  day  shall  I  forget  the  scene ;  —  a  dim 
lamp  in  the  midst,  just  making  darkness  visible,  and  dis- 
covering to  my  horrified  gaze,  sixty  or  seventy  wretched 
objects,  some  in  long  rows  made  fast  in  the  stocks,  some 
strung  on  poles,  some  simply  fettered ;  but  all  sensi- 
ble of  a  new  accession  of  misery,  in  the  approach  of  a  new 
prisoner.  Stupefied,  I  stopped  to  gaze  till  goaded  on  ;  I 
proceeded  towards  the  further  end,  when  I  again  halted. 
A  new  and  unexpected  sight  met  my  eyes.  Till  now  I 
had  been  kept  in  ignorance  of  the  fate  of  my  companions ; 
a  long  row  of  white  objects,  stretched  on  the  floor,  in  a  most 
crowded  situation,  revealed  to  me,  however,  but  too  well, 
their  sad  case,  and  I  was  again  urged  forward.  Poor  old 
R.  wishing  to  retain  the  end  of  the  bamboo,  made  way  for 
me  to  be  placed  along  side  of  Mr.  J.  '  We  all  hoped  you 
would  have  escaped,  you  were  so  long  coming,'  was  the 
first  friendly  salutation  I  had  yet  received ;  but  alas,  it  was 
made  by  friends  whose  sympathy  was  now  unavailing. 

"  Here,  side  by  side,  we  were  allowed  the  only  gratifica- 
tion left,  of  condoling  (in  the  Burnian  language)  with  each 
other.  '  Now  you  are  arrived  and  our  number  is  complete, 
I  suppose  they  will  proceed  to  murder  us,'  was  the  first 
thing  suggested ;  and  no  one  could  say  it  was  improbable. 
To  prepare  for  a  violent  death,  for  immediate  execution,  was 
our  consequent  resolution.  And  now  we  began  to  feel  our 
strength,  our  Stronghold,  our  Deliverer,  in  this  dark  abode 
of  misery  and  despair.  He  who  has  said,  I  will  never 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  87 

leave  you  nor  forsake  you,  manifested  his  gracious  pres- 
ence ;  a  calm  sweet  peace  succeeded  to  our  hurried  minds, 
and  alternate  prayer  and  repeating  of  hymns,  soon  brought 
our  minds  to  a  state  of  comparative  gladness  and  joy.  We 
became  lifted  above  our  persecutors ;  and  the  hymn  con- 
taining the  words  — 

Let  men  of  spite  against  me  join, 
They  are  the  sword,  the  hand  is  thine  ; 

was  peculiarly  applicable  and  refreshing.  Now,  ye  scoffers, 
say  what  you  will,  here  is  a  triumph  you  cannot  attain.  Re- 
ligion !  Oh,  the  sweets  of  religious  communion  with  God  ! 
Let  them  now,  even  now  come,  we  said  ;  '  we  are  prepared 
for  the  worst  you  can  do ;  you  cannot  deprive  us  of  our 
hope  in  God,  our  sweet'  peace  of  mind.'  Thus  we  whiled 
away  the  hours  of  the  night.  Nature  shuddered,  but  the 
soul  was  unshaken :  our  confidence  was  in  the  Rock  of 
Ages.  We  were  not  left,  however,  without  many  a  pang ; 
for  ever  and  anon  the  situation  of  our  dear  families  pre- 
sented itself  to  us,  and  the  thought  of  what  they  might 
even  now  be  suffering  on  our  account,  and  in  their  own 
persons,  was  like  racks  and  tortures  to  our  hearts.  Still 
we  reflected,  they  too  are  in  the  hands  of  a  merciful  God ; 
they  too  may  be  now  enjoying  a  portion  of  that  support  which 
we  ourselves  feel,  and  we  concluded  to  commit  them  to  his 
Almighty  keeping,  and  our  minds  were  much  relieved. 
The  night  was  rainy,  and  we  were  much  incommoded  by 
the  circumstance ;  the  stench  of  the  place  was  almost  in- 


88  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

tolerable  ;  we  had  no  bed  but  the  greasy  filthy  floor  of  our 
prison ;  and  unable  to  move  our  bodies  for  the  bamboo, 
which  passed  between  our  legs,  our  situation  became  ex- 
ceedingly distressing,  when  at  length  the  morning  dawned 
upon  our  sleepless  eyes.  For  a  long  time  we  were  doubtful 
of  the  day  light.  The  rain  continued  to  descend  in  tor- 
rents, and  no  window  or  door  was  there  to  the  room.  At 
length  the  bamboo  wicket  was  opened,  and  a  figure  approach- 
ed us  of  a  most  terrific  appearance  and  a  horrid  counte- 
nance. He  jocularly  saluted  us,  hoped  we  had  slept  well, 
and  in  reply  to  our  repeated  requests,  said  he  would  order 
us  to  be  let  out  for  five  minutes.  He  was  as  good  as  his 
word.  And  now  commences  the  history  of  our  luxuries. 
First  and  foremost,  to  find  ourselves  again  on  our  feet,  to 
be  able  to  move  our  limbs,  shackled  as  they  were.  Ye 
who  ride  for  pleasure,  believe  me  when  I  assert  you  never 
enjoyed  an  hour  worthy  to  be  compared  with  these  few 
minutes ;  and  then  to  get  out  into  the  fresh  air  !  the  rain, 
the  mud,  we  heeded  not,  our  enjoyment  was  pure ;  but, 
alas !  like  all  things  here  below,  soon  to  cease.  Again  we 
were  turned  in,  and  notwithstanding  our  remonstrances, 
again  obliged  to  take  our  station  as  before.  The  arrival  of 
our  breakfast  afforded  another  short  interval  of  relief ;  but 
we  were  not  allowed  to  communicate  with  our  people  who 
brought  it,  and  hence  still  kept  ignorant  of  the  situation 
of  our  dear  families ;  our  appetites  being  not  very  keen; 
were  soon  satisfied  ;  and  our  dishes  sent  away  we  relapsed 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE. 

into  our  former  reflection,  What  is  to  be  done  with  us? 
The  nifht  was  inconvenient  to  have  us  executed  :  no  doubt 

O  * 

the  day  will  be  fixed  on  for  the  purpose.  Every  thing 
around  us  was  alarming  —  we  were  in  the  worst  prison,  in 
the  worst  part  of  it,  and  most  rigorously  treated.  Our 
crime  too  admitted  of  no  advocate,  the  populace  even 
seemed  to  join  in  cursing  us.  Among  our  fellow-prisoners, 
few  sympathized  with  us  ;  and  it  was  the  invariable  custom 
of  the  country,  that  such  as  we  should  not  be  permitted  to 
live.  Many  groans  were  uttered,  and  many  tears  shed, 

before  this  weary  day  passed  off.  Poor  old thought 

it  a  very  hard  case  he  should  have  served  the  king  of  Bur- 
mah  forty  years,  and  be  rewarded  -thus  at  last. 

"  Mr.  J.,  Mr.  Gr.,  and  myself  spent  the  day  in  as  com- 
posed a  frame  as  could  be  expected,  considering  our  noisy 
company,  want  of  rest,  and  uneasy  situation.  The  night 
passed  off  tolerably  well;  tired  nature's  sweet  restorer, 
cast  in  over  us  the  mantle  of  a  temporary  oblivion. 

"  The  next  morning,  Mr.  J.  was  called  out  early,  by 
some  man  of  consequence,  who  wanted  to  know  if  he  meant 
to  stay  inside  forever ;  asked  why  he  had  not  applied  with 
a  proper  present  to  procure  the  liberty  of  the  yard  —  which 
would  have  saved  him  the  trouble  of  calling  at  this  time  to 
offer  him  the  choice  of  paying  three  hundred  ticals,  (four 
hundred  S.  R.)  or  of  being  still  more  rigorously  treated. 
Mr.  J.  told  him  it  was  an  exorbitant  demand  ;  that  he  was 
a  priest,  and  ought  not  to  be  compelled  to  pay  money  at 


90  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

all.  On  which  the  man,  who  proved  to  be  the  town  clerk, 
assumed  an  air  of  high  authority ;  said  he  would  go.  down 
to  his  house  and  see  for  himself  whether  he  had  the  ability 
of  paying  or  not ;  ordered  him  immediately  to  give  in  a 
true  account  of  all  his  effects,  and  by  no  means  to  leave 
out  an  article ;  at  the  same  time  using  very  abusive  and 
threatening  language.  This  unauthorized  conduct  excited 
the  indignation  of  a  woman  present,  (Ma  Cathai)  who 
sharply  interposed,  and  the  examination  was  stopped.  I 
was  then  called  out,  and  the  same  demand  was  repeated,  to 
which  I  made  the  same  reply.  Highly  exasperated,  he 
called  for  the  old  jailor,  and  ordered  me  back  to  be  more 
tightly  kept  (kyat  kyat  'tah.)  Mr.  J.  was  also  ordered  in, 
and  a  hint  given  that  if  one  hundred  pieces  were  given,  we 
should  be  let  out  of  the  close  room.  Mr.  G.  and  Mr.  R. 
were  let  out  this  morning  on  the  payment  of  about  four 
hundred. 

"  Just  after  breakfast  a  meeting  took  place  between  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  J.  of  such  a  nature  as  to  affect  even  to  sobbing 
our  hardened  keeper  who  was  also  a  fellow  prisoner. 
We  were  now  informed,  for  the  first  time,  that  immediately 
after  Mr.  J's  departure,  the  house  was  surrounded  with 
guards,  every  thing  in  the  yard  broken  or  destroyed,  or 
carried  away,  and  at  length  she  was  obliged  to  suspect 
them  of  intending  the  same  thing  in  the  house.  She 
accordingly  retired  within,  and  having  fastened  all  the 
doors  remained  quietly  to  wait  the  event.  Soon  the  de- 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  91 

mons  appeared  at  the  door,  and  ordered  it  to  be  opened, 
threatening  to  break  it  down.  But  not  obtaining  their 
purpose,  they  seized  on  the  cook  and  consumer,  tied  them 
by  the  feet,  and  hoisted  them  towards  the  ceiling.  The 
cries  of  these  poor  wretches  effected  what  the  threats  of  the 
others  could  not;  and  to  relieve  her  people,  Mrs.  J. 
opened  a  wicket  and  threw  out  to  them  six  or  seven  hand- 
kerchiefs, on  which  they  desisted  from  further  violence, 
keeping  up  nevertheless  a  most  deafening  noise  the  whole 
night.  In  the  morning  the  head  of  the  district  came  to 
see  her ;  to  whom  she  complained  of  the  conduct  of  his 
people.  On  which  he  reprimanded  them  severely,  ordered 
them  to  give  back  the  handkerchiefs,  and  in  a  day  or  two 
removed  them  entirely  from  the  house  :  when  Mrs.  J.  was 
left  quite  at  liberty  to  go  where  she  chose  ;  of  which  lib- 
erty we  often,  very  often  reaped  the  benefit ;  for  although 
her  house  was  full  two  miles  off",  she  almost  daily  walked 
this  distance  to  alleviate  our  miseries  and  complain  to  the 
proper  authority  when  the  understrappers  used  us  ill. 

"  On  the  day  she  first  visited  the  prison,  we  had  a  most 
grateful  proof  of  her  assistance ;  for  so  soon  as  she  wit- 
nessed the  scene  of  our  sufferings,  she  rested  not  until  she 
had  procured,  on  the  same  day,  the  enlargement  of  us  both. 
The  day  following,  Prince  TBarawottee  sent  and  ordered 
the  enlargement  of  Capt.  L.  The  remaining  two  were 
relieved  the  next  day,  no  money  being  obtained  from  them. 

"  Being  all  seven  now  placed  in  a  comfortable  room  by 


92  ADON1RAM   JUDSON, 

ourselves,  we  began  to  take  that  enjoyment  which  so  great 
a  change  in  our  circumstances  was  calculated  to  produce. 
Mr.  Gr.  even  proposed  sending  for  chairs,  and  tables,  &c. 
that  we  might  have  every  thing  in  as  good  style  as 
possible. 

"  While  we  were  quietly  consulting  on  these  matters,  a 
crowd  of  people  thronged  into  the  prison,  bringing  a  man 
who  was  accused  of  robbing  jewels  to  a  very  high  amount. 
He  was  confronted  by  the  accuser,  a  woman  who  affirmed 
him  to  be  the  man  who  had  put  a  dagger  to  her  throat,  and 
prevented  her  crying  out  for  aid.  Refusing  to  confess,  his 
torture  commenced,  to  which  we  were  obliged  to  be  unwil- 
ling spectators,  for  besides  that  we  were  all  naturally  averse 
to  such  a  sight,  we  only  anticipated  in  every  contortion 
and  groan  of  the  unhappy  man,  the  state  we  might  soon  be 
in.  He  was  first  jerked  suddenly  by  the  hair  of  the  head, 
from  the  floor  of  the  hall,  and  landed  on  the  ground  ;  next 
his  hands  were  tied  very  tight  behind  him,  and  drawn  up 
to  a  high  pole,  so  as  almost  to  dislocate  the  shoulder.  Last 
of  all,  his  knees  were  bound  fast  together,  and  two  hand 
spikes  put  in  the  figures  of  the  letter  X  between  his  thighs, 
when  with  an  immense  advantage  of  power,  the  two  lev- 
ers were  brought,  each  to  a  perpendicular,  like  the  letter 
H,  the  hip  joints  almost  or  quite  dislocated ;  and  the 
wretched  sufferer  uttering  a  horrid  shriek,  fainted  away. 
After  using  means  to  recover  him,  he  was  ordered  into  five 
pairs  of  fetters,  as  an  incorrigible  culprit,  and  turned  into 
the  prison. 


THE   EUEMAN   APOSTLE.  »O 

"  On  Saturday  evening,  June  12,  we  were  informed  that 
Rangoon  was  surrounded  by  the  Burman  troops,  and  that 
they  were  only  waiting  orders,  whether  to  catch  the  white 
men  alive,  or  kill  them  at  once  :  —  also  we  were  told,  for 
our  satisfaction,  that  some  great  man,  a  general,  perhaps,  or 
more  likely  the  king  himself,  had  been  taken  prisoner,  and 
was  nearly  arrived  at  Ava.  Each  began  to  imagine  the 
probability  that  he  should  be  forced  to  behold,  in  the  new 
made  prisoner,  some  bosom  friend.  It  may  be  Mr.  H.  or 
Mr.  W. ;  it  may  be  Mr.  S.  or  Mr.  A.  or  Mr.  T. ;  there 
was  no  end  to  our  fruitless  conjectures.  At  length  the  cel- 
ebrated prisoner  arrives  about  12  at  night,  each  of  us  look- 
ing out  on  the  rack  of  intense  curiosity  ;  but  he  was  brought 
in  covered  with  a  cloak,  and  no  one  could  satisfy  his  mind 
on  the  interesting  particular.  At  3  o'clock,  A.  M.  an 
order  came  to  put  us  all  inside  again.  Oh  !  what  a  pros- 
pect now  presented  itself,  '  that  no  faith  should  be  kept 
with  heretics.'  Was  this  the  cause  of  our  being  put  again 
inside,  when  they  had  promised  us  the  outside,  and  taken 
an  enormous  sum  of  money  from  us  on  this  express  condi- 
tion ?  Or  were  they  about  to  put  us  to  death  to  day,  along 
with  the  new  prisoner  ?  The  latter  seemed  the  most  prob- 
able, and  our  minds  were  again  filled  with  unspeakable 
anxiety,  and  sleep  departed  from  our  eyes.  At  8  A.  M. 

the  town  clerk  came  in  and  informed  Mr. that  the 

king  had  sent  to  inquire  after  his  watch.     He  said  it  was 
at  his  house  — '  and  the  key  of  his  strong  box  ?  it  was 


94  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

at  home.    Now,  said  Mr. ,  I  am  sure  they  will  kill  me 

on  account  of  my  property.  I  shall  never  survive  this  day. 
He  became  much  agitated,  requested  me  to  pray  with  him 
once  more,  which  I  did,  with  many  tears.  He  then  gave 
me  particular  messages  to  be  delivered,  if  ever  I  escaped 
to  his  surviving  friends.  '  0,  tell  them,  above  all,'  said  he, 
'  that  I  die  in  faith  and  hope  ;  Christ  is  my  portion, 
my  Saviour  ;  I  die  happy  ?'  My  heart  was  ready  to  burst. 
I  promised,  nevertheless,  everything  that  was  required,  lit- 
tle hoping,  however,  that  I  should  ever  live  to  deliver  them ; 
and  reminded  by  the  very  circumstance  of  the  reason  I  had 
myself  of  making  the  same  preparation." 

Thus  far  we  have  followed  the  narrative  of  Dr.  Price, 
and  we  now  close  the  account  of  almost  unparalleled  suf- 
ferings in  the  language  of  Mrs.  Judson,  the  heroic  woman 
whose  memory  is  associated  with  all  that  is  hallowed  in 
missions,  and  all  that  is  dear  in  piety. 

"  But  new  and  dreadful  trials  were  yet  before  us.  I 
had  gone  in  one  morning  to  give  Mr.  Judson  his  breakfast, 
and  intended  spending  a  few  hours,  as  usual,  when  the 
governor,  in  great  haste,  sent  for  me.  I  was  agreeably  dis- 
appointed, on  appearing  before  him,  to  find  that  he  had  noth- 
ing in  particular  to  communicate,  and  that  he  was  uncom- 
monly kind  and  obliging.  He  had  detained  me  a  long 
time,  when  a  servant  came  in  hastily,  and  whispered  that 
the  foreign  prisoners  had  all  been  taken  out,  and  he  knew 
not  where  they  were  carried.  Without  speaking  to  the  gov- 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  95 

ernor,  I  ran  down  stairs  into  the  street,  hoping  to  catch  a 
sight  of  them  ;  but  they  were  beyond  the  reach  of  my  eye. 
I  inquired  of  all  whom  I  met,  which  way  the  white  prison- 
ers were  gone ;  but  no  one  knew  :  I  returned  again  to  the 
governor,  who  declared  that  he  was  perfectly  ignorant  of 
their  fate  ;  and  that  he  did  not  know  of  their  being  taken 
out  of  prison  till  a  few  moments  before.  This  was  all  false ; 
as  he  had  evidently  been  detaining  me,  to  avoid  witnessing 
the  scene  that  was  to  follow.  He  also  said,  with  a  meaning 
countenance,  '  You  can  do  no  more  for  your  husband  : 
take  care  of  yourself.'  This  was  a  day  never  to  be  forgotten. 
I  retired  to  my  little  bamboo  house,  and  endeavored  to 
obtain  comfort  from  the  only  true  source  ;  but  my  mind 
was  in  such  a  distracted  state,  that  I  could  not  steadily 
reflect  on  any  thing.  This  one  thought  occupied  my  mind 
to  the  exclusion  of  every  other  —  that  I  had  seen  Mr.  Jud- 
son  for  the  last  time,  and  that  he  was  now  probably  in  a 
state  of  extreme  agony.  In  the  evening  I  heard  that  the 
prisoners  were  sent  to  Ummerapoorah  ;  but  what  was  to  be 
their  fate  was  not  yet  known.  The  next  day  I  obtained 
a  pass  from  government,  to  follow  Mr.  Judson,  with 
my  little  Maria,  who  was  then  only  three  months  old ; 
and,  with  one  Bengalee  servant,  set  out  on  my  jour- 
ney. We  reached  the  government  house  at  Ummerapoo- 
rah ;  and  were  informed  that  the  prisoners  had  been  sent 
off  two  hours  before,  to  Oung-pen-lay,  (a  place  similar 
to  Botany  Bay,)  whither  I  immediately  followed.'  I  found 


96  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

Mr.  Judson  in  a  most  wretched  state.  He  had  been  drag- 
ged out  of  his  little  room  the  day  before  :  his  shoes,  hat,  and 
clothes,  excepting  his  shirt  and  pantaloons,  had  been  taken 
from  him,  and  in  his  feeble  state  of  health,  and  in  the  hot- 
test part  of  the  day,  had  been  literally  driven  ten  miles 
with  a  rope  tied  round  his  waist.  His  feet  were  torn  in 
such  a  manner,  that  for  six  weeks  he  was  unable  to  stand. 
He  was  nearly  exhausted  with  pain  and  fatigue,  when  a 
servant  of  Mr.  Ganger's  who  had  followed  his  master,  took 
from  his  head  his  turban,  gave  part  of  it  to  Mr.  Judson, 
who  hastily  wrapped  it  about  his  feet,  which  enabled  him 
to  proceed  without  sinking.  He  and  Dr.  Price  were  now 
chained  together  ;  and  with  the  other  prisoners,  put  inside 
of  a  small  wood  prison,  almost  gone  to  decay.  We  after- 
wards were  informed  that  the  pagan  Woongyee  had  sent 
the  foreigners  to  this  place,  with  a  design  to  sacrifice  them, 
in  order  to  secure  success  in  his  contemplated  expedition  : 
but  the  king,  suspecting  him  of  treasonable  intentions, 
caused  him  to  be  executed  before  he  had  time  to  accom- 
plish his  designs. 

"  I  here  obtained  a  little  room  from  one  of  the  jailors, 
where  I  passed  six  months  of  constant  and  severe  suffering. 
Mr.  Judson  was  much  more  comfortably  situated  than 
when  in  the  city  prison,  as  he  had  only  one  pair  of  fetters ; 
and,  when  recovered  from  his  fever  and  wounds,  was 
allowed  to  walk  in  the  prison  enclosure.  But  I  was  de- 
prived of  every  single  convenience  j  and  my  health,  which 


THE   BURMAN    AP08TLE.  97 

had  enabled  me  to  bear  severe  trials  bitherto,  now  began  to 
fail.  I  was  taken  with  one  of  the  country  disorders  ;  and,  for 
two  months,  was  unable  to  go  to  Mr.  Judson's  prison. 
Our  little  Maria,  who  had  just  recovered  from  the  small- 
pox, was  near  starving  to  death,  as  I  could  neither  obtain 
a  nurse  nor  a  drop  of  milk  in  the  village. 

"  Our  merciful  Father  preserved  us  all,  through  these 
dreadful  scenes ;  and,  at  the  expiration  of  six  months,  an 
order  arrived  for  the  release  of  Mr.  Judson,  and  I  was 
allowed  to  return  to  our  house  in  town. 

"  The  King  was  much  in  want  of  an  interpreter,  and, 
from  selfish  motives,  had  given  orders  for  the  release  of 
Mr.  Judson,  who  was  immediately  conducted  to  the  Bur- 
mese Camp,  then  at  Wialown,  where  he  remained  six 
weeks  translating  for  his  Majesty :  he  was  then  sent  back 
to  Ava ;  and  as  a  reward  for  his  services,  ordered  back  to 
the  Oung-pen  to  prison ;  but  before  the  order  could  be 
executed,  I  sent  Moung  Ing  to  Koung-tong,  who  was  now 
high  in  office,  and  had  for  a  long  time  manifested  a  dispo- 
sition to  help  us ;  and  begged  that  he  would  intercede  for 
Mr.  Judson,  and  prevent  his  being  sent  again  to  prison. 
Koung-tong  complied  with  my  request,  offered  to  become 
security  for  Mr.  Judson,  and  took  him  to  his  house,  where 
he  was  kept  a  prisoner  at  large  nearly  two  months  longer. 

"  The  British  troops  were  now  so  rapidly  advancing, 
that  the  King  and  Government  felt  the  necessity  of  taking 
some  measures  to  prevent  their  arrival  in  the  capital.     They 
7 


98 


AUONIIIAM    JUDSON, 


had  several  times  refused  to  listen  to  the  terms  which  Sir 
Archibald  Campbell  had  offered  ;  but  they  now  saw  that 
there  was  no  other  hope  for  the  preservation  of  the  '  gold- 
en city.'  Mr.  Judson  was  daily  called  to  the  palace, 
and  his  opinion  requested  in  all  their  procce  \t\\\-s ;  and 
the  Government  finally  entreated  him  to  go  as  their  Am- 
bassador to  the  English  Camp.  This  he  entirely  declined  ; 
but  advised  their  sending  Dr.  Price,  who  had  no  objection 
to  going.  Dr.  Price  being  unsuccessful  in  his  mission,  on 
his  return  Mr.  Judson  was  taken  by  force,  and  gent  with 
him  again.  Sir  Archibald  bad  before  this  demanded  us, 
together  with  the  other  foreign  prisoners ;  but  the  King  had 
refused,  saying,  '  They  are  my  people;  let  them  remain.' 
We  then  did  not  venture  to  express  a  wish  to  leave  the 
country,  fearing  that  we  should  be  immediately  sent  to 
prison.  Mr.  Judson  communicated  our  real  situation  to  the 
General,  who  with  all  the  feelings  of  a  British  officer,  now 
demanded  us  in  a  way  that  his  Majesty  dared  not  refuse  ; 
and  on  the  21st  of  February,  after  an  imprisonment  of 
nearly  two  years,  we  took  our  leave  of  the  '  golden  city  ' 
and  all  its  magnificence,  and  turned  oar  faces  toward  the 
British  Camp,  then  within  forty  miles  of  Ava." 

While  confined  in  the  death  dungeon  at  Ava,  Mr.  Jud- 
son composed  a  most  touching  poem  to  his  infant,  Maria 
Eliza  Butterworth,  who  was  born  at  Ava,  Jan.  26th,  18'25, 
and  who  was  at  this  time  but  twenty  days  old.  The  poem, 
under  such  circumstances,  must  have  spoken  out  a  father's 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE. 

heart  —  a  heart  which  he  supposed  would,  in  a  short  time, 
cease  its  wild  and  tumultuous  throbbings. 

"  Sleep,  darling  infant,  sleep, 

Hush'd  on  thy  mother's  breast; 
Let  no  rude  sound  of  clanking  chains 

Disturb  thy  balmy  rest. 

Sleep,  darling  infant,  sleep, 
Blest  that  thou  canst  not  know 
The  pangs  that  rend  thy  parents'  hearts, 
The  keenness  of  their  wo. 

Sleep,  darling  infant,  sleep: 
May  Heaven  its  blessing  shed, 
In  rich  profusion,  soft  and  sweet, 
On  thine  unconscious  head. 

Why  ope  thy  little  eyes  ? 
What  would  my  darling  see  ? 
Her  sorrowing  mother's  bending  form  ? 
Her  father's  misery  ? 

Wouldst  view  this  drear  abode, 
Where  fettered  felons  lie, 
And  wonder  that  thy  father  dear, 
Such  place  shouli  occupy  ? 

Wouldst  see  the  dreadful  sights, 
That  stoutest  hearts  appal, 
The  stocks,  the  cord,  the  fatal  sword, 
The  torturing  iron  maul  ? 

No,  darling  infant,  no  ; 
Thou  seest  them  not  at  all ; 
Thou  only  mark'st  the  rays  of  light, 
That  flit  along  the  wall. 


ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

Thine  untaught  infant  eye 
Can  nothing  clearly  see  ; 
Sweet  scenes  of  home  and  prison  scenes 
Are  alj  the  same  to  thee. 

Stretch  then  thy  little  limbs, 
And  roll  thy  vacant  eye, 
Reposing  in  thy  mother's  arms, 
In  soft  security. 

Go,  darling  infant,  go  ; 
Thine  hour  is  past  away  ; 
The  jailer's  voice,  in  accents  harsh, 
Forbids  thy  longer  stay. 

God  grant  we  yet  may  meet 
In  happier  times  than  this  ; 
And  with  thine  angel  mother  dear, 
Enjoy  domestic  bliss ! 

But  should  ihe  gathering  clouds, 
That  Burmah's  sky  o'erspread, 
Conduct  the  fatal  vengeance  down 
Upon  thy  father's  head, 

Where  couldst  thou  shelter  find  ? 
Ah,  whither  wouldst  thou  stray  ? 
What  hand  support  thy  tot.tering  steps, 
And  guide  thy  darkling  way  ? 

There  is  a  God  on  high, 
The  glorious  King  of  kings  ; 
'Tis  he  to  whom  thy  mother  prays, 
Whose  love  she  sits  and  sings- 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  101 

That  glorious  God,  so  kind, 
Has  sent  his  Son  to  save 
Our  ruin'd  race  from  sin  and  death, 
And  raise  them  from  the  grave." 

Leaving  Mrs.  Judson  at  Amherst,  Mr.  J.  accompanied 
Mr.  Crawford  to  Ava,  to  negotiate  a  treaty  -with  the  proud 
Court.  During  his  absence,  his  beloved  and  amiable 
companion  was  called  from  time  into  eternity.  Dying 
alone,  with  scarcely  one  kind  hand  to  wipe  the  death-drops 
from  her  brow,  she  left  words  of  encouragement  for  her 
husband.  Mr.  Judson  returned  to  find  himself  the  father 
of  a  motherless  child,  and  to  weep  beside  the  grave  of  one 
who  had  shared  his  most  severe  and  awful  trials.  Dark 
was  his  lot  and  cold  his  hearth-side,  as  he  sat  down  to 
weep,  when  the  native  Christians  told  him  how  fondly  and 
how  anxiously  the  deceased  had  asked,  "  Will  the  teacher 
never  come?" 

And  here  we  may  pause  to  speak  of  her  —  the  first,  the 
most  wonderful  of  all  the  women  who  have  left  home  for 
God  and  a  perishing  world.  Educated  in  refinement  and 
luxury,  and  possessed  of  every  attraction  to  render  her  a 
favorite  with  her  friends,  she  gave  her  life  to  a  cause  which 
demanded  trial,  privation,  and  suffering.  She  was  chosen 
of  God,  and  but  for  her,  Judson  might  have  died  long  ago, 
and  to  the  church  might  have  been  lost  those  arduous 
labors  which  he  has  performed.  Her  sufferings  were  most 
incredible,  and  her  watchings  and  fastings  equal  to  any 


102  ADONIRAM    JODSON, 

which  are  mentioned  of  the  holy  women  who  lived  in  tho 
time  of  Christ.  Her  death,  while  it  was  full  of  sadness, 
had  nothing  connected  with  it  to  tarnish  the  brightness  of 
her  life. 

She  died  alone.  The  husband  who  had  suffered  with 
her  was  not  present  to  hold  her  dying  hand,  or  wipe  the 
death  damp  from  her  brow.  Engaged  in  the  service  of 
God,  he  was  far  away,  entirely  unconscious  of  the  scenes 
which  were  transpiring  in  his  own  dwelling.  He  knew 
not  what  groans,  and  pains,  and  dying  struggles  were  heard, 
and  seen,  and  felt,  in  the  bosom  of  his  family ;  and  ho 
returned  only  to  find  his  hopes  blasted,  and  to  mingle  his 
tears  with  those  which  were  already  falling  upon  the  new 
made  grave.  The  remains  of  Mrs.  Judson  now  repose  at 
Amherst,  under  the  shadow  of  the  Hopia  tree,  which  waves 
its  branches  as  if  conscious  of  the  tender  trust  committed 
to  it.  And  there  she  will  sleep  until  the  morning  of  the 
resurrection.  It  would  be  sacrilege  to  rob  the  soil  of 
India  of  such  a  precious  treasure  as  it  now  contains.  The 
time  will  come  when  that  grave  will  be  visited  by  thousands 
of  converted  heathen,  who  will  remember  her,  as  the  first 
woman  who  came  to  tell  the  fallen  females  of  the  East, 
of  those  things  which  are  more  precious  than  life. 

And  soon  the  child,  the  dear  little  Maria,  was  taken  out 
of  the  arms  of  the  stricken  father,  and  again  Judson  was 
alone  —  alone.  Of  the  death  of  this  lovely  and  interest- 
ing child,  the  good  man  thus  writes  to  his  mother-in-law. 


THB   BURMAN   APOSTLE  103 

"  My  little  Maria  lies  by  the  side  of  her  fond  mother. 
The  complaint,  to  which  she  was  subject  several  months, 
proved  incurable.  She  bad  the  best  medical  advice  :  and 
the  kind  care  of  Mrs.  Wade  could  not  have  been,  in 
any  respect,  exceeded  by  that  of  her  own  mother.  But 
all  our  efforts,  and  prayers,  and  tears,  could  not  propitiate 
the  cruel  disease ;  the  work  of  death  went  forward,  and 
after  the  usual  process,  excruciating  to  a  parent's  heart,  she 
ceased  to  breathe,  on  the  24th  inst.  at  3  o'clock,  P.  M. 
aged  two  years  and  three  months.  We  then  closed  her 
faded  eyes,  and  bound  up  her  discolored  lips,  where  the 
dark  touch  of  death  first  appeared,  and  folded  her  little 
hands  on  her  cold  breast.  The  next  morning,  we  made 
her  last  bed,  in  the  small  enclosure  that  surrounds  her 
mother's  lonely  grave.  Together  they  rest  in  hope,  under 
the  hope-tree,  (Hopia,)  which  stands  at  the  head  of  the 
graves ;  and  together,  I  trust,  their  spirits  are  rejoicing, 
after  a  short  separation  of  precisely  six  months.  y1;l 

"  And  I  am  left  alone  in  the  wide  world.     My  own 
dear  family  I  have  buried ;  one  in  Rangoon,  and  two  in 
Amherst.     What  remains  fcr  me,  but  to  hold  myself  in 
readiness  to  follow  the  dear  departed  to  that  blessed  world, 
'  Where  my  best  friends,  my  kindred  dwell, 
Where  God,  my  Saviour,  reigns  ?'  " 

After  the  death  of  his  dear  companion,  Dr.  Judson  gave 
himself  up  entirely  to  his  holy  employment,  and  with  in- 
creased diligence  devoted  himself  to  the  great  and  important 


104  ADONIRAM    JUDSON, 

work,  of  bringing  lost  men  to  Christ.  He  went  forth  scat- 
tering the  seed  of  divine  truth  on  every  side,  and  winning 
to  Christ  the  trophies  of  saving  grace. 

As  the  best  way  of  portraying  the  arduous  labors  of  this 
servant  of  God,  we  give  a  few  extracts  from  his  journal 
of  a  "tour  among  the  Karens." 

"  MARCH  8th,  1832.  Went  several  miles  inland  to  visit 
Nge-Koung's  village  ;  but  the  people  being  Boodhist  Ka- 
rens, would  not  even  treat  us  hospitably ;  much  less,  listen 
to  the  word.  In  the  afternoon,  reached  Yahdan's  v  1  age, 
and  visited  the  little  church,  chiefly  to  receive  the  confes- 
sion of  two  female  members,  who  have  been  implicated  in 
making  some  offering  to  the  demon  who  rules  over  dis- 
eases—  the  easily  besetting  sin  of  the  Karens.  Spent  the 
rest  of  the  day  in  preaching  to  the  villagers  and  visitors 
from  different  parts.  Several  professed  to  believe.  Had 
a  profoundly  attentive,  though  small  as-embly  at  evening 
worship,  on  the  broad  sand  bank  of  the  river,  with  the 
view  to  the  accommodation  of  certain  boat-people.  We 
felt  that  the  Holy  Spirit  set  home  the  truth  in  a  peculiar 
manner.  Some  of  the  disciples  were  eng  aged  in  religious 
discussion  and  prayer,  a  great  part  of  the  night. 

"  9th.  Several  requested  baptism.  In  the  course  of  the 
day,  we  held  a  church  meeting,  composed  of  the  disciple  s 
from  Maulrnain  and  others  from  the  neighboring  village, 
and  received  three  persons  into  our  communion,  all  men, 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  105 

formerly  disciples  of  the  new  prophet  Areemaday.  In  the 
afternoon  proceeded  up  the  river,  as  far  as  Zatzan's  vil- 
lage, where  two  old  women  of  some  influence  in  these  parts, 
listened  with  good  attention.  At  night,  several  of  the 
disciples  went  inland,  a  few  miles  to  Lai-dan,  where  the 
inhabitants  are  chiefly  Boodhist  Karens  ;  but  finding  Nah 
Kee-kah,  the  widow  of  Pan-mlai-mlo,  whose  death  is  men- 
tioned Jan.  12th,  her  parents  and  sister  drank  in  the  truth. 
I  hope  to  visit  them  on  my  return. 

"  10th.  Went  on  to  the  mouth  of  theYen-being,  and  as 
far  as  the  great  log,  which  prevents  a  boat  from  proceeding 
further.  Providentially,  met" with  Wah-hai,  of  whom  I  have 
heard  a  good  report  for  some  time.  He  was  happy  to  see 
us,  and  we  were  happy  to  examine  and  baptize  him.  We 
then  visited  the  village,  whence  they  formerly  sent  a 
respectful  message,  desiring  us  to  go  about  our  business, 
and  found  some  attentive  listeners. 

"  llth.  Lord's  day.  Again  took  the  main  river,  and 
soon  fell  in  with  a  boat,  containing  several  of  the  listeners 
of  yesterday,  among  whom  was  one  man,  who  declared  his 
resolution  to  enter  the  new  religion.  We  bad  scarcely 
parted  with  this  boat,  when  we  met  another  full  of 
men,  coming  down  the  stream  ;  and,  on  hailing  to  know 
whether  they  wished  to  hear  the  gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  an  elderly  man,  the  chief  of  the  party,  replied,  that 
he  had  already  heard  much  of  the  gospel ;  and  there  was 
nothing  he  desired  more,  than  to  have  a  meeting  with  the 


106  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

teacher.  Our  boats  were  soon  side  by  side  ;  where,  after 
a  short  engagement,  the  old  man  struck  his  colors,  and 
begged  us  to  take  him  into  port,  where  he  could  make  a 
proper  surrender  of  himself  to  Christ.  We  accordingly 
went  to  the  shore,  and  spent  several  hours  very  delightfully, 
under  the  shade  of  the  overhanging  trees,  and  the  banner 
of  the  love  of  Jesus.  The  old  man's  experience  was  so 
clear,  and  his  desire  for  baptism  so  strong,  that  though  cir- 
cumstances prevented  our  gaining  so  much  testimony  of 
his  good  conduct,  since  believing,  as  we  usually  require,  we 
felt  that  it  would  be  wrong  to  refuse  his  request.  A  lad 
in  his  company,  the  person  mentioned  Jan.  30th,  desired 
also  to  be  baptized.  But  though  he  had  been  a  preacher 
to  the  old  man,  his  experience  was  not  so  decided  and 
satisfactory  ;  so  that  we  rejected  him  for  the  present.  The 
old  man  went  on  his  way,  rejoicing  aloud,  and  declaring 
his  resolution  to  make  known  the  eternal  God,  and  the 
dying  love  of  Jesus,  on  all  the  banks  of  the  Yoon-za-lcn, 
his  native  stream. 

"  The  dying  words  of  an  aged  man  of  God,  when  he  waved 
his  withered  death-struck  arm,  and  exclaimed,  '  The  best 
of  all  is,  God  is  with  us,'  I  feel  in  my  very  soul.  Yes, 
the  Great  Invisible  is  in  these  Karen  wilds.  That  Mighty 
Being,  who  heaped  up  these  craggy  rocks,  and  reared 
these  stupendous  mountains,  and  poured  out  these  streams 
in  all  directions,  and  scattered  immortal  beings  through- 
out these  deserts, — He  is  present,  by  the  influence  of  his 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  107 

Holy  Spirit,  and  accompanies  the  sound  of  the  gospel, 
with  converting,  sanctifying  power.  '  The  best  of  all  is, 
God  is  with  us.' 

'  In  these  deserts  let  me  labor, 
On  these  mountains  let  me  tell, 
How  he  died  —  the  blessed  Saviour, 
To  redeem  a  world  from  hell.' 

"  12th.  Alas !  how  soon  is  our  joy  turned  iflto  mourning. 
Nah  Nyah-ban,  of  whom  we  all  had  such  a  high  opinion, 
joined  her  husband,  not  many  days  after  their  baptism,  in 
making  an  offering  to  the  demon  of  diseases,  on  account  of 
the  sudden,  alarming  illness  of  their  youngest  child  ;  and 
they  have  remained  ever  since  in  an  impenitent,  prayerless 
state  !  They  now  refuse  to  listen  to  our  exhortation,  and 
appear  to  be  given  over  to  hardness  of  heart  and  blindness  of 
mind.  I  was,  therefore,  obliged,  this  morning,  to  pronounce 
the  sentence  of  suspension,  and  leave  them  to  the  mercy  and 
judgment  of  God.  Their  case  is  greatly  to  be  deplored. 
They  are  quite  alone  in  this  quarter ;  have  seen  no  disci- 
ples since  we  left  them,  and  are  surrounded  with  enemies, 
—  some  from  Maulmain,  who  have  told  them  all  manner 
of  lies,  and  used  every  method  to  procure  and  perpetuate 
their  apostacy.  When  I  consider  the  evidence  of  grace, 
which  they  formerly  gave,  together  with  all  the  palliating 
circumstances  of  the  case,  I  have  much  remaining  hope, 
that  they  will  yet  be  brought  to  repentance.  I  commend 
them  to  the  prayers  of  the  faithful,  and  the  notice  of  any 


108  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

missionary  who  may  travel  this  way.  In  consequence  of 
the  advantage  which  Satan  has  gained  in  this  village,  the 
six  hopeful  enquirers  whom  we  left  here,  have  all  fallen 
off;  so  that  we  are  obliged  to  retire  with  the  dispirited 
feelings  of  beaten  troops. 

"  Returned  down  the  river,  —  re-entered  the  Yen-being, 
—  had  another  interview  with  the  listeners  of  yesterday,  — 
met  with  a  Taleing  doctor  from  Kan-blah,  near  Maulmain, 
who  listened  all  the  evening  with  evident  delight. 

"  13th.  Spent  the  day  and  night  at  Zatzan's,  See-bais  and 
the  village  of  Lai-dan,  where  we  failed  of  finding  Nah  Kee- 
kah  ;  but  found  her  parents,  who  listened  well.  In  these 
parts,  I  leave  a  considerable  number  of  hopeful  inquirers. 
May  the  Lord  bless  the  seed  sown,  and  give  us  the  pleas- 
ure of  reaping  a  plentiful  harvest  at  no  very  distant  period. 

"  16th.  The  opposition  here  is  violent.  The  man  who 
was  baptized  on  my  last  visit,  has  been  obliged  to  remove 
to  the  outskirts  of  the  village ;  but  he  remains  steadfast 
in  the  faith  ;  and  to-day,  another  man  came  out  and 
Laving  witnessed  a  good  confession,  was  received  into  the 
fellowship  of  the  persecuted.  At  night,  run  down  to  Poo- 
door's  village,  about  five  miles,  —  found  him  at  home,  and 
spent  the  evening  in  persuading  him  to  forsake  all  for 
Christ.  His  language  is  that  of  Aggrippa,  '  Almost,'  &c. 
I  have  great  hopes  and  great  fears  for  his  immortal  soul. 
Three  of  the  disciples  went  several  miles  inland  to  a  village, 
where  there  are  some  hopeful  inquirers. 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  109 

"  17th.  Returned  up  the  river  to_Chummerah.  In  the 
evening,  had  a  considerable  assembly  of  disciples,  prepara- 
tory to  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  supper. 

"  18th.  Lord's  day.  Administered  the  Lord's  supper 
to  thirty-six  communicants,  chiefly  from  villages  on  the 
Sal  wen." 

The  beloved  missionary  remained  in  all  the  loneliness 
of  widowed  woe,  until  the  10th  of  April,  1834,  when  he 
was  married  to  Sarah  Boardman,  the  widow  of  George  D. 
Boardman,  who,  about  four  years  previous,  was  laid  to 
rest.  The  marriage  service  was  performed  at  Tavoy,  by 
Rev.  Francis  Mason,  and  the  newly-married  couple  started 
for  the  new  scene  of  labor  and  tears.  From  this  time,  Mr. 
Judson  continued  laboring  on  in  his  Master's  service  —  at 
one  time  persecuted,  and  at  another  time  reduced  by  fa- 
tigue and  hungaiv  The  mission  was  prospered  by  God ; 
new  laborers  were  sent  forth ;  a  vast  amount  of  work  was 
accomplished,  and  the  servant  of  God  endeared  himself  to 
the  Christian  world,  by  the  many  tokens  of  his  faithful- 
ness and  love  to  Christ. 

TO   DR.    BOLLES. 

Newville,  March  12th,  1834. 

I  have  spent  a  few  days  in  this  place,  where,  on  my  arri- 
val, I  found  the  church  consisting  of  twenty-five  members 
only  ;  several  having  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Chum- 


110  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

merah  church ;  which,  though  of  later  origin,  is  now  five  or 
six  times  larger  than  the  Newville.  Day  before  yesterday, 
and  to-day,  nine  new  members  have  been  received  at  this 
place,  and  there  are  five  or  six  others,  with  whom  I  feel  satis- 
fied ;  but.  for  various  reasons,  their  baptism  has  been  de- 
ferred. In  the  number  received,  the  most  noticeable  case,  is 
that  of  Lausau,  and  wife.  He  is  a  petty  chief,  and  possesses 
more  personal  influence,  than  any  Karen  yet  baptized  in 
these  parts.  He  has  been  considering  the  Christian  re- 
ligion, with  approbation,  for  three  years,  but  has  had  great 
difficulties  to  encounter,  resulting  from  his  family  connex- 
ions, and  from  his  inveterate  habit  of  temperate  drinking. 
Until  the  present  time,  he  could  never  resolve  on  adopting 
the  principle  of  entire  abstinence  ;  but  I  trust  that  convic- 
tion of  truth,  and  love  of  the  Saviour,  have  enabled  him  to 
gain  the  victory. 

16.  On  leaving  Newville,  it  was  my  intention  to  go  up 
the  Patah  river ;  but,  not  finding  sufficient  water  this 
season,  I  turned  into  the  Houng-tarau ;  and,  having  visited 
a  village,  where  there  are  several  inquirers,  returned  to 
Maulmain. 

April  1.  Have  been  closely  engaged  in  revising  a  few 
books  of  the  Old  Testament  for  the  press,  —  the  regular 
printing  of  the  whole  being  now  commenced.  I  say,  com- 
menced, —  for  the  edition  of  the  Psalms,  which  is  out  of 
press,  we  do  not  consider  as  forming  a  part  of  the  present 
edition  of  the  Old  Testament ;  for  it  will  probably  be  ex- 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  Ill 

pended  before  long,  and  have  to  be  reprinted  in  course  with 
the  rest  of  the  work. 

To-day,  dispatched  Pallah,  and  three  younger  Karen 
assistants,  to  the  aid  of  Ko  Thah-byoo,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Rangoon,  intending  to  proceed  thither  myself  before  long. 

Tavoy,  April  10.  I  arrived  here  on  the  evening  of  the 
sixth  instant.  Am  delighted  with  this  station,  and  every 
thing  about  it.  The  fow  native  Christians,  whom  I  have 
seen,  together  with  the  schools,  appear  excellently  well. 
But  the  glory  of  this  station,  the  two  hundred  Karen  con- 
verts, and  their  village  of  Mee-tahmyo,  I  found  myself  not 
at  leisure  to  visit.  Indeed,  I  have  hardly  found  time  to 
step  out  of  the  mission  inclosure,  since  my  arrival ;  and, 
to-day,  having  received  the  benediction  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Mason,  I  embark  for  Maulmain,  accompanied  by  Mrs. 
Judson,  and  the  only  surviving  child  of  the  beloved  found- 
er of  the  Tavoy  station.  Once  more,  farewell  to  thco, 
Board  man,  and  thy  long-cherished  grave.  May  thy  mem- 
ory be  over  fresh  and  fragrant,  as  the  memory  of  the  other 
belovel,  whoso  beautiful,  death-rnarred  form  reposes  at  the 
foot  of  the  Hopia  tree. 

A.  JUDSOX. 

By  his  second  wife,  Dr.  Judson  became  the  father  of 
eight  childcn,  several  of  whom  now  survive.  With  some 
of  them  he  has  been  called  to  part ;  and  the  ties  which 
have  linked  him  to  the  earth  have  been  severed,  one  by 


112  ADONIEAM   JUDSON, 

one.  And  still  he  lived  on,  doing  the  will  of  God,  and 
serving  the  purpose  of  his  generation. 

One  great  object,  for  which  the  good  man  has  prayed  and 
labored,  is  the  compilation  of  his  Burmese  Dictionary, 
which  will  afford  to  future  missionaries  a  great  aid  in  the 
study  of  the  language.  His  many  translations,  also,  mark 
his  life  as  one  of  the  utmost  diligence  and  labor.  But 
few  men  have  been  enabled  to  accomplish  so  much  good, 
even  under  the  most  propitious  circumstances,  and  the 
thanks  of  the  Christian  church  are  due  to  her  servant, 
who  has  given  his  labor  and  his  life,  to  spread  abroad  a 
knowledge  of  her  doctrines  and  duties. 

In  1845,  the  health  of  Mrs.  Judson  became  so  impaired 
as  to  render  a  sea-voyage  necessary,  and,  in  company  with 
her  husband,  she  sailed  for  the  United  States.  For  a 
while,  high  hopes  were  cherished,  but  they  were  vain,  and, 
on  the  1st  of  September,  1845,  she  died  on  shipboard, 
while  the  vessel  was  lying  in  the  port  of  St.  Helena.  She 
was  buried  in  all  the  majesty  of  death,  and  the  lonely 
husband,  left  in  sorrow  a  second  time,  pursued  his  solitary 
way  to  the  land  of  his  birth. 

When  it  became  apparent  that  Mrs.  Judson  could  not 
live  much  longer,  her  companion  addressed  the  following 
letter  to  the  Board,  under  date  of  April  13,  1845. 

"  The  hand  of  God  is  heavy  upon  me.  The  complaint 
to  which  Mrs.  Judson  is  subject,  has  become  so  violent, 


THE   BUKMAN   APOSTLE.  113 

that  it  is  the  unanimous  opinion  of  all  the  medical  men, 
and,  indeed,  of  all  our  friends,  that  nothing  but  a  voyage 
beyond  the  tropics  can  possibly  protract  her  life  beyond 
the  period  of  a  few  weeks,  but  that  such  a  voyage  will,  in 
all  probability,  insure  her  recovery.  All  medical  skill 
has  been  exhausted.  She  has  spent  six  weeks  with  our 
commissioner  and  his  lady,  in  a  trip  down  the  coast,  touch- 
ing at  Tavoy  and  Mergui,  and  returned  weaker  and 
nearer  the  grave  than  when  she  set  out.  She  is  willing 
to  die,  and  I  hope  I  am  willing  to  see  her  die,  if  it  be  the 
divine  will ;  but  though  my  wife,  it  is  no  more  than  truth 
to  say,  that  there  is  scarcely  an  individual  foreigner  now 
alive,  who  speaks  and  writes  the  Burmese  tongue  so 
acceptably  as  she  does ;  and  I  feel  that  an  effort  ought  to 
be  made  to  save  her  life.  I  have  long  fought  against  the 
necessity  of  accompanying  her  ;  but  she  is  now  so  desper- 
ately weak  and  almost  helpless,  that  all  say  it  would  be 
nothing  but  savage  inhumanity  to  send  her  off  alone.  The 
three  younger  children,  the  youngest  but  three  months  and 
a  half  old,  we  must  leave  behind  us,  casting  them,  as  it 
were,  on  the  waters,  in  the  hope  of  finding  them  again  after 
many  days.  The  three  elder,  Abby  Ann,  Adoniram,  and 
Elnathan,  we  take  with  us  to  leave  in  their  parents'  native 
land.  These  rendings  of  parental  ties  are  more  severe, 
and  wring  out  bitterer  tears  from  the  heart's  core,  than 
any  can  possibly  conceive,  who  have  never  felt  the  wrench. 
But  I  hope  I  can  say  with  truth,  that  I  love  Christ  above 


114  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

all ;  and  I  am  striving,  in  the  strength  of  my  weak  faith, 
to  gird  up  my  mind  to  face  and  welcome  all  his  appoint- 
ments. And  I  am  much  helped  to  bear  these  trials,  by 
the  advice  and  encouragement  of  all  my  dear  brethren  and 
sisters  of  the  mission. 

"It  is  another  great  trial  to  leave  my  dear  church  and 
people.  I  never  knew  till  now,  how  much  I  loved  them, 
and  how  much  they  loved  me. 

'  And  'tis  to  love,  our  farewells  owe 
All  their  emphasis  of  woe.' — 

"  But  I  leave  them  in  the  hands  of  my  dear  brethren  ; 
and  there  are  no  persons  in  the  world  to  whom  I  should 
be  so  willing  to  commit  so  dear  a  charge. 

"  The  course  that  I  have  uniformly  pursued,  ever  since  I 
became  a  missionary,  has  been  rather  peculiar.  In  order 
to  become  an  acceptable  and  eloquent  preacher  in  a  foreign 
language,  I  deliberately  abjured  my  own.  When  I  cross- 
ed the  river,  I  burnt  my  ships.  For  thirty-two  years,  I 
have  scarcely  entered  an  English  pulpit,  or  made  a  speech 
in  that  language.  Whether  I  have  pursued  the  wisest 
course,  I  will  not  contend;  and  how  far  I  have  attained 
the  object  aimed  at,  I  must  leave  for  others  to  say.  But, 
whether  right  or  wrong,  the  course  I  have  taken  cannot  be 
retraced.  The  burnt  ships  cannot  now  be  reconstructed. 
From  long  desuetude,  I  can  scarcely  put  three  sentences 
together  in  the  English  language  I  must,  therefore,  beg 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  115 

the  Board  to  allow  me  a  quiet  corner,  where  I  can  pursue 
my  work  with  my  assistants,  undisturbed  and  unknown. 

"  This  request  I  am  induced  to  urge  from  the  further 
consideration,  that  my  voice,  though  greatly  recovered 
from  the  affection  of  the  lungs  which  laid  me  aside  from 
preaching  nearly  a  year,  is  still  so  weak  that  it  can  only 
fill  a  small  room ;  and  whenever  I  attempt  4o  raise  it 
above  the  conversational  tone,  the  weak  place  gives  way, 
and  I  am  quite  broken  down  again  for  several  weeks.  I 
hope,  therefore,  that  no  one  will  try  to  persuade  me  to  be 
guilty  of  such  imprudence  while  in  America ;  but  since 
there  are  thousands  of  preachers  in  English,  and  only  five 
or  six  Burmese  preachers  in  the  whole  world,  I  may  be 
allowed  to  hoard  up  the  remnant  of  my  breath  and  lungs, 
for  the  country  where  they  are  most  needed." 

Sad  and  affecting  was  the  passage  of  his  estimable  lady 
from  time  to  eternity.  After  the  birth  of  her  last  child,  in 
1844,  she  was  attacked  by  a  disease  from  which  she  never 
recovered.  Her  husband,  after  her  death,  wrote  ar  affec- 
tionate tribute  to  her  worth,  to  which  many  hearts  in 
Burmah  and  America,  were  able  to  respond.  In  that 
notice  he  says:  "After  her  prostration  at  the  Isle  of 
France,  where  we  spent  three  weeks,  there  remained  but 
little  expectation  of  her  recovery.  Her  hope  had  long 
been  fixed  on  the  Rock  of  Ages,  and  she  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  contemplating  death  as  neither  distant  nor  unde- 
sirable. As  it  drew  near,  she  remained  perfectly  tranquil. 


110  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

No  shade  of  doubt,  or  fear,  or  anxiety,  ever  passed  over 
her  mind.  She  .had  a  prevailing  preference  to  depart  and 
be  with  Christ.  '  I  am  longing  to  depart,'  and  '  what 
can  I  want  besides  ? '  quoting  the  language  of  a  familiar 
hymn,  were  the  expressions  which  revealed  the  spiritual 
peace  and  joy  of  her  mind  ;  yet,  at  times,  the  thought  of 
her  nativo»  land,  to  which  she  was  approaching  after  an 
absence  of  twenty  years,  and  a  longing  desire  to  see  once 
more  her  son  George,  her  parents,  and  the  friends  of  her 
youth,  drew  down  her  ascending  soul,  and  constrained  her 
to  say,  '  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt  two,  —  let  the  will  of 
God  be  done.' 

"  In  regard  to  her  children,  she  ever  manifested  the  most 
surprising  composure  and  resignation ;  so  much  so,  that  I 
was  once  induced  to  say,  '  You  seem  to  have  forgotten 
the  dear  little  ones  we  have  left  behind.'  '  Can  a  moth- 
er forget?'  she  replied,  and  was  unable  to  proceed. 
During  her  last  days,  she  spent  much  time  in  praying  for 
the  early  conversion  of  her  children.  May  her  living  and 
her  dying  prayers  draw  down  the  blessing  of  God  on  their 
bereaved  heads. 

"  On  our  passage  homeward,  as  the  strength  of  Mrs.  J. 
gradually  declined,  I  expected  to  be  under  the  painful 
necessity  of  burying  her  in  the  sea.  But  it  was  so  ordered 
in  Divine  Providence,  that,  when  the  indications  of  ap- 
proaching death  had  become  strongly  marked,  the  ship 
came  to  anchor  in  the  port  of  St.  Helena.  For  three 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  117 

days  she  continued  to  sink  rapidly,  though  her  bodily  suf- 
ferings were  not  very  severe.  Her  mind  became  liable  to 
wander,  but  a  single  word  was  sufficient  to  recall  and  steady 
her  recollections.  On  the  evening  of  the  31st  of  August, 
she  appeared  to  be  drawing  near  to  the  end  of  her  pilgrim- 
age. The  children  took  leave  of  her,  and  retired  to  rest. 
I  sat  alone  by  the  side  of  her  bed  during  the  hours  of  the 
night,  endeavoring  to  administer  relief  to  the  distressed 
body  and  consolation  to  the  departing  soul.  At  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  wishing  to  obtain  one  more  token  of  recog- 
nition, I  roused  her  attention  and  said,  '  Do  you  still  love 
the  Saviour?'  '0  yes,' she  replied,  'lever  love  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  I  said  again,  'Do  you  still  love 
me?'  She  replied  in  the  affirmative,  by  a  peculiar 
expression  of  her  own.  '  Then  give  me  one  more  kiss  ; ' 
and  we  exchanged  that  token  of  love  for  the  last  time. 
Another  hour  passed, — life  continued  to  recede, — and 
she  ceased  to  breathe.  For  a  moment  I  traced  her  upward 
flight,  and  thought  of  the  wonders  which  were  opening  to 
her  view.  I  then  closed  her  sightless  eyes,  dressed  her, 
or  the  last  time,  in  the  drapery  of  death ;  and,  being  quite 
exhausted  with  many  sleepless  nights,  I  threw  myself  down 
and  slept.  On  awaking  in  the  morning,  I  saw  the  children 
standing  and  weeping  around  the  body  of  their  dear 
mother,  then,  for  the  first  time,  inattentive  to  their  cries. 
In  the  course  of  the  day,  a  coffin  was  procured  from  the 


118  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

shore,  in  which  I  placed  all  that  remained  of  her  whom  I 
had  so  much  loved ;  and  after  a  prayer  had  been  offered 
by  a  dear  brother  minister  from  the  town,  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Bertram,  we  proceeded  in  boats  to  the  shore.  There  we 
were  met  by  the  Colonial  chaplain,  and  accompanied  to 
the  burial-ground  by  the  adherents  and  friends  of  Mr. 
Bertram,  and  a  large  concourse  of  the  inhabitants.  They 
had  prepared  the  grave  in  a  beautiful  shady  spot,  contigu- 
ous to  the  grave  of  Mrs.  Chater,  a  missionary  from  Ceylon, 
who  had  died  in  similar  circumstances  on  her  passage  home. 
There  I  saw  her  safely  deposited ;  and  in  the  language  of 
prayer,  which  we  had  often  presented  together  at  the 
throne  of  grace,  I  blessed  God  that  her  body  had  attained 
the  repose  of  the  grave,  and  her  spirit  the  repose  of 
paradise.  After  the  funeral,  the  dear  friends  of  Mr. 
Bertram  took  me  to  their  houses  and  their  hearts ;  and 
their  conversation  and  prayers  afforded  me  unexpected 
relief  and  consolation.  But  I  was  obliged  to  hasten  on* 
board  ship,  and  we  immediately  went  to  sea.  On  the 
following  morning  no  vestige  of  the  island  was  discernible 
in  the  distant  horizon.  For  a  few  days,  in  the  solitu  le  of 
my  cabin,  with  my  poor  children  crying  around  me,  I 
could  not  help  abandoning  myself  to  heart-breakirg  sorrow. 
But  the  promises  of  .the  gospel  came  to  my  aid,  and  faith 
stretched  her  view  to  the  bright  world  of  eternal  life,  and 
anticipated  a  happy  meeting  with  those  beloved  Icings, 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  119 

whose    bodies   are    mouldering    at  Amherst   and   Saint 
Helena." 

Mr.  Judson  arrived  upon  his  native  shores  Oct.  15, 1845. 
He  was  received  with  open  arms  by  the  American  churches. 
Christians  of  all  denominations  turned  out  to  welcome  him, 
and  he  went  through  the  country,  everywhere  arousing 
men  to  think  and  feel,  in  relation  to  the  conversion  of  the 
world.  A  service  was  held  in  Bowdoin  Square  Church, 
in  Boston,  in  which  the  veteran  missionary  was  publicly 
congratulated  on  his  safe  arrival.  An  affectionate  and 
touching  address  was  delivered  by  Rev.  Dr.  Sharp,  one  of  the 
oldest  pastors  in  the  city.  At  the  close  of  the  exercises, 
hundreds  pressed  forward  to  shake  the  hand  which  had 
been  chained  in  the  dungeons  of  Ava,  and  which  had  led 
the  first  Barman  convert  down  into  the  baptismal  sepulchre. 

While  in  America,  this  venerable  man  sought  out  one 
who  would  write  a  memoir  of  the  dear  companion  whom 
he  had  buried  on  the  rocky  bosom  of  "  the  sea-girt  isle  " 
He  was  directed  to  Miss  Emily  Chubbuck,  of  New  York, 
as  a  person  suitable  to  perform  this  work.  Miss  C.  had 
been  a  popular  writer  for  several  magazines  and  newspa- 
pers, and  was  extensively  known  as  "Fanny  Forrester." 
With  this  young  lady  the  Doctor  had  an  interview,  which 
resulted  in  an  offer  of  marriage,  which  was  accepted,  and 
they  were  united  in  wedlock  at  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  by  Kev. 
Dr.  Kendrick.  That  Mrs.  Judson  has  not  regretted  the 


120  ADONIRAM   J0DSON, 

step  then  taken,  we  may  judge  from  a  few  verses  of  her 
late  poem,  entitled  "  The  two  Mammas." 


#«******» 

"  But  poor  papa's  thoughts  turned  back 
To  Burmah  and  to  you. 

"  He  talked  of  wretched  heathen  men, 

With  none  to  do  them  good ; 
Of  children  who  are  taught  to  bow 
To  gods  of  stone  and  wood. 

"  He  told  me  of  his  darling  boys, 

Poor  orphans  far  away, 
With  no  mamma  to  kiss  their  lips, 
Or  teach  them  how  to  pray. 

"  And  would  I  be  their  new  mamma, 

And  join  the  little  band 
Of  those  who,  for  the  Saviour's  sake, 
Dwell  in  a  heathen  land. 

"And  when  I  knew  how  good  he  was, 

I  said  that  I  would  come ; 
I  thought  it  would  be  sweet  to  live 
In  such  a  precious  home. 

"  And  look  to  dear  papa  for  smiles, 

And  hear  him  talk  and  pray  ; 
Slit  then  1  knew  not  it  would  grow 
Still  sweeter  every  day. ' ' 

But  the  stay  of  the  veteran  missionary  in  this  country  was 
short.  The  heathen  world  had  stronger  claims  upon  him, 
and  stronger  attractions  too,  than  the  land  of  his  birth ;  and 
soon,  in  the  spacious  church  in  Baldwin  Place,  were  held 


THE   EURMAN   APOSTLE.  121 

the  solemn  services  of  the  farewell  occasion.  Rev.  R.  H. 
Neale,  opened  the  sacred  word,  and  read  the  solemn  lessons 
of  inspiration,  adapted  to  the  occasion ;  Rev.  Dr.  Ripley 
led  the  vast,  yet  deathlike  silent  congregation  up  to  the 
throne  of  grace ;  Rev.  Dr.  Stow  addressed  the  assembled 
people,  tracing  the  evidences  of  divine  providence  in  the 
missionary  movement,  and  especially  in  the  labors  and  toils 
of  Judson ;  Rev.  Dr.  Hague  read  the  farewell  address  of 
the  beloved  servant  of  God,  who,  too  weak  to  be  heard  by 
the  immense  throng,  yet  desired  to  leave  his  testimony  for 
the  church;  Dr  Judson  himself,  uttered  words  few, 
solemn,  earnest;  the  closing  scene  then  came,  the  tearful 
eye,  the  pressure  of  the  hand,  the  warm  word  of  sympa- 
thy and  love,  and  it  was  done. 

Then  came  the  hour  of  departure  —  the  service  on  ship- 
board —  the  last  parting,  and  the  devoted  man  was  on  his 
way  to  his  Barman  home  —  to  his  Burman 'grave. 

''\ 

"Yet,  yet,  'tis  hard  to  let  thee  go, 

Feeling  that  never  more  below 
Thou  in  our  midst  may  dwell. 
How  will  our  spirits  cling  to  thee, 
Though  we  no  more  thy  face  may  see ; 

WE  WILL  NOT  SAY  FAREWELL  ! 

"  We  will  go  with  thee.     Seas  may  roll 
Between  our  homes,  but  the  free  soul 

Across  their  waves  shall  glide. 
God  grant  us,  when  this  life  is  o'er, 
To  meet  thee  on  a  happier  shore, 

And  still  be  by  thy  side.  " 


122  AUONIIUM   JUDSON, 

The  following  is  the  farewell  address  read  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Hague,  in  behalf  of  Dr.  Judson. 

"  There  are  periods  in  the  lives  of  men,  who  experience 
much  change  of  scene  and  variety  of  adventure,  when  they 
seem  to  themselves  to  be  subject  to  some  supernatural 
illusion,  or  wild,  magical  dream,  —  when  they  are  ready, 
amid  the  whirl  of  conflicting  recollection,  to  doubt  their 
own  personal  identity,  —  and,  like  steersmen  in  a  storm, 
feel  that  they  must  keep  a  steady  eye  to  the  compass,  and 
a  strong  arm  at  the  wheel.  The  scene  spread  out  before 
me  seems,  on  retrospection,  to  be  identified  with  the  past, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  to  be  reaching  forward  and  fore- 
shadowing the  future.  At  one  moment,  the  lapse  of  thirty- 
four  years  is  annihilated;  the  scenes  of  1812  are  again 
present;  and  this  assembly  —  how  like  that  which  com- 
mended me  to  God,  on  first  leaving  my  native  shores  for 
the  distant  East !  But,  as  I  look  around,  where  are  the 
well-known  faces  of  Spring,  and  Worcester,  and  Dwight  ? 
—  Where  are  Lyman,  and  Huntington,  and  Griffin  ?  And 
where  are  those  leaders  of  the  baptized  ranks,  who  stretch- 
ed out  their  arms  across  the  water,  and  received  me  into 
their  communion  ?  —  Where  are  Baldwin  and  Bolles  ? 
Where  Holcombe,  and  Rogers,  and  Staughton  ?  I  see 
them  not.  I  have  been  to  their  temples  of  worship,  but 
their  voices  have  passed  away.  And  where  are  my  early 
missionary  associates,  — Newell,  and  Hall,  and  Rice,  and 
Richards,  and  Mills?  But  why  inquire  for  those  so  an- 


THE   BTJRMAN   APOSTLE.  123 

cient  ?  Where  are  the  succeeding  laborers  in  the  mission- 
ary field  for  many  years,  —  and  the  intervening  generation, 
who  sustained  the  missions  ?  And  where  are  those  who 
moved  amid  the  dark  scenes  of  Rangoon,  and  Ava,  and 
Tavoy?  —  Where  those  gentle,  yet  firm  spirits,  which  ten- 
anted forms,  —  delicate  in  structure,  but  careless  of  the 
storm,  — now  broken,  and  scattered,  and  strewn,  like  the 
leaves  of  autumn,  under  the  shadow  of  overhanging  trees, 
and  on  remote  islands  of  the  sea  ? 

"No,  these  are  not  the  scenes  of  1812,  nor  is  this  the 
assembly  that  convened  in  the  Tabernacle  of  a  neighboring 
city.  Many  years  have  elapsed ;  many  venerated,  many 
beloved  ones  have  passed  away  to  be  seen  no  more. 
1  They  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their  works  do  follow 
them.'  And  with  what  words  shall  I  address  those  who 
have  taken  their  places,  the  successors  of  the  venerated 
and  the  beloved  —  the  generation  of  1812  ? 

"  In  that  year  American  Christians  pledged  themselves  to 
the  work  of  evangelizing  the  world.  They  had  but  little 
to  rest  on  except  the  command  and  promise  of  God.  The 
attempts  then  made  by  British  Christians  had  not  been 
attended  with  so  much  success,  as  to  establish  the  practi- 
cability, or  vindicate  the  wisdom,  of  the  missionary  enter- 
prise. For  many  years,  the  work  advanced  but  slowly.  One 
denomination  after  another  embarked  in  the  undertaking ; 
and  now  American  missionaries  are  seen  in  almost  every 
land  and  every  clime.  Many  languages  have  been  ac- 


24  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

quired ;  many  translations  of  the  Bible  have  been  made ;  the 
gospel  has  been  extensively  preached  ;  and  churches  have 
been  established  containing  thousands  of  sincere,  intelli- 
gent converts.  The  obligation,  therefore,  on  the  present 
generation,  to  redeem  the  pledge  given  by  their  fathers,  is 
greatly  enhanced.  And  it  is  an  animating  consideration, 
that,  with  the  enhancement  of  the  obligation,  the  encourage- 
ments to  persevere  in  the  work,  and  to  make  still  greater 
efforts,  are  increasing  from  year  to  year.  Judging  from 
the  past,  what  may  we  rationally  expect,  during  the  lapse 
of  another  thirty  or  forty  years?  Look  forward  with  the 
eye  of  faith.  Sec  the  missionary  spirit  universally  diffused, 
and  in  active  operation  throughout  this  country,  —  every 
church  sustaining  not  only  its  own  minister,  but  through 
some  general  organization,  its  own  missionary  in  a  foreign 
land.  See  the  Bible  faithfully  translated  into  all  languages 
—  the  rays  of  the  lamp  of  heaven  transmitted  through 
every  medium,  and  illuminating  all  lands.  See  the  Sabbath 
spreading  its  holy  calm  over  the  face  of  the  earth", — the 
churches  of  Zion  assembling,  and  the  praises  of  Jesus 
resounding  from  shore  to  shore  ;  and  though  the  great 
majority  may  still  remain,  as  now  in  this  Christian  country, 
without  hope  and  without  God  in  this  world,  yet  the  bar- 
riers in  the  way  of  the  descent  and  operations  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  removed,  so  that  revivals  of  religion  become  more 
constant  and  more  powerful. 

"  The  world  is  yet  in  its  infancy  ;  the  gracious  designs  of 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  125 

God  are  yet  hardly  developed.  Glorious  things  are  spoken 
of  Zion,  the  city  of  our  God.  She  is^  yet  to  triumph, 
and  become  the  joy  and  glory  of  the  \vhole  earth.  Blessed 
be  God  that  we  live  in  these  latter  times  —  the  latter  times 
of  the  reign  of  darkness  and  imposition.  Great  is  our  priv- 
ilege, precious  is  our  opportunity,  to  cooperate  with  the 
Saviour  in  the  blessed  work  of  enlarging  and  establishing 
his  kingdom  throughout  the  world.  Most  precious  the 
opportunity  of  becoming  wise,  in  turning  many  to  right- 
eousness, and  of  shining  at  last,  as  the  brightness  of  the 
firmament,  and  as  the  stars,  forever  and  ever. 

"  Let  us  not,  then,  regret  the  loss  of  those  who  have  gone 
before  us,  and  are  waiting  to  welcome  us  home,  nor  shrink 
from  the  summons  that  must  call  us  thither.  Let  us  only 
resolve  to  follow  them,  who  through  faith  and  patience  in- 
herit the  promises.  Let  us  so  employ  the  remnant  of  life, 
and  so  pass  away,  as  that  our  successors  will  say  of  us  as 
we  of  our  predecessors,  '  Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in 
the  Lord.  They  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their  works 
do  follow  them.'" 

The  remarks  made  by  Dr.  Judson  orally,  on  the  same 
occasion,  were  these,  uttered  in  broken  accents  : — 

"  My  friends  are  aware,  that  it  is  quite  impossible  for 
me,  without  serious  injury  to  myself,  to  sustain  my, voice 
at  such  a  height  as  to  reach  this  large  assembly,  —  except 
for  a  few  sentences.  I  have  therefore  taken  the  liberty  of 


126  ADONIEAM   JUDSON, 

putting  some  thoughts  on  paper,  which  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Hague  will  do  me  the  honor  of  reading  to  you. 

"  I  wish,  however,  in  my  own  voice,  to  praise  God  for  the 
deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  missions,  manifested  by  the 
friends  of  the  Redeemer  in  this  city  and  the  vicinity,  and 
to  thank  them  for  all  their  expressions  and  acts  of  kindness 
toward  me,  during  my  brief  sojourn  among  them.  I  regret 
that  circumstances  have  prevented  my  spending  more  time 
in,  this  city,  and  of  forming  a  more  intimate  acquaintance 
with  those,  whom  a  slight  acquaintance  has  taught  me  so 
much  to  love. 

"It  is  as  certain  as  any  future  event  can  be,  that  I 
shall  never  again  re-visit  the  shores  of  my  native  land,  — 
that  after  a  few  days,  your  beautiful  city,  —  this  great  and 
glorious  country,  will  be  forever  shut  from  my  view.  No 
more  shall  I  enter  your  places  of  worship,  —  no  more  shall 
I  behold  your  faces,  and  exchange  the  affectionate  saluta- 
tions of  Christian  love. 

"  The  greatest  favor  we  can  bestow  on  our  absent  friends, 
is  to  bear  them  on  our  hearts  at  the  throne  of  grace.  I 
pray  you,  dear  friends,  remember  me  there,  —  and  my 
missionary  associates,  and  our  infant  churches,  and  the 
poor  heathen  among  whom  we  go  to  live.  And  though 
we  do  meet  no  more  on  earth,  I  trust  that  our  next  meet- 
ing will  be  in  that  blessed  world,  where  '  the  loved  and  the 
parted  here  below,  meet  ne'er  to  part  again.' " 


THE   BURMAN   APOSTLE.  127 

After  the  return  of  Dr.  Judson  to  India,  letters  were 
received  from  him,  giving  cheering  indications  of  his  pro- 
gress in  his  sublime  work. 

TO  THE  REV.  E.  BRIGHT. 

"KANGOON,  MARCH  28,  1847. — I  have  just  returned 
from  baptizing  a  Burman  convert,  in  the  same  tank  of 
•water  where  I  baptized  the  first  Burman  convert,  Moung 
Nau,  twenty-eight  years  ago.  It  is  now  twenty-five  years 
since  I  administered  baptism  in  Rangoon,  the  few  converts 
that  have  been  made  during  that  period  being  generally 
baptized  by  the  native  pastor.  My  time  has  been  mostly 
spent  in  Maulmain,  where,  having  been  instrumental,  with 
others,  of  raising  up  a  few  Burmese  and  Karen  churches, 
I  have  left  them,  since  my  return  from  America,  in  the 
care  of  my  dear  and  excellent  missionary  brethren,  and  am 
now  making  a  small  attempt  once  more  in  Burmah  Proper. 

"  The  attempt,  however,  is  made  under  very  discouraging 
circumstances.  The  present  administration  of  government, 
though  rather  more  friendly  to  foreigners,  is  more  rigidly 
intolerant  than  that  of  the  late  king  Tbarawaddy.  Any 
known  attempt  at  proselyting  would  be  instantly  amenable 
at  the  criminal  tribunal,  and  would  probably  be  punished 
by  the  imprisonment  or  death  of  the  proselyte,  and  the 
banishment  of  the  missionary.  The  governor  of  this  place 
has  received  me  favorably,  not  as  a  missionary  (though  he 
well  knows,  from  old  acquaintance,  that  that  is  my  char- 


128  ADONIRAM  JUDSON, 

acter,)  but  as  a  minister  of  a  foreign  religion,  ministering 
to  foreigners  resident  in  the  place,  and  a  dictionary  maker, 
'  laboring  to  promote  the  welfare  of  both  countries.'  Our 
missionary  efforts,  therefore,  being  conducted  in  private, 
must  necessarily  be  very  limited.  It  is,  however,  a  pre- 
cious privilege  to  be  allowed  to  welcome  into  a  private'room 
a  small  company,  perhaps  two  or  three  individuals  only, 
and  pour  the  light  of  truth  into  their  immortal  souls  — 
souls  that,  but  for  the  efficacy  of  that  light,  would  be  cov- 
ered with  the  gloom  of  darkness  —  darkness  to  be  felt  to  all 
eternity. 

"  Another  discouraging  circumstance  is  the  very  low  state 
of  the  Burnian  church  in  this  place.  There  are  about 
twenty  nominal  members  still  surviving ;  but  they  are 
much  scattered,  and  not  half  of  them  appear  to  be  living 
members.  I  have,  therefore,  been  making  an  attempt  to 
reorganize  the  church,  and  have  found  four  individuals 
who  have  united  with  myself  and  wife  in  renewing  our 
church  covenant,  and  establishing  a  new  church.  We  have, 
this  day,  received  one  new  member,  and  we  hope  to  find 
a  few  more  of  the  old  members  who  will  come  up  to  our 
standard." 

TO  THE  SAME. 

"  RANGOON,  MAY  20,  1847.  —This  is  the  first  Lord's 
day  on  which  I  have  had  no  regular  worship.  A  private 
order  of  government  was  issued  day  before  yesterday,  to 


THE    BURMAN   APOSTLE.  129 

have  the  house  I  occupy  watched  by  police  officers,  in  order 
to  apprehend  any  who  might  be  liable  to  the  charge  of 
favoring  "Jesus  Christ's  religion."  Seasonable  informa- 
tion was  communicated  to  me  and  the  disciples,  by  friends 
at  court,  so  that  they  have  all  escaped  for  the  present. 
None  came  near  me,  except  two  from  the  country ;  and 
with  them  I  had  a  very  interesting  and  affecting  time,  in  a 
private  room ;  and  they  got  off  undiscovered.  Four  Ka- 
ren lads,  who  had  been  waiting  for  a  passage  to  Maulmain, 
decamped  before  light  this  morning,  for  their  native  jungle. 

"  The  vice-governor  of  the  place,  who  is  indeed  the  acting 
governor  at  present,  is  the  most  ferocious,  bloodthirsty 
monster  I  have  ever  known  in  Burmah.  It  is  said,  that 
his  house  and  courtyard  resound,  day  and  night,  with  the 
screams  of  people  under  torture.  Even  foreigners  are  not 
beyond  his  grasp.  He  lately  wreaked  his  rage  on  some 
Armenians  and  Mussulmans ;  and  one  of  the  latter  class 
died  in  the  hands  of  a  subordinate  officer.  His  crime  was 
quite  a  venial  one  ;  but,  in  order  to  extort  money,  he  was 
tortured  so  barbarously  that  the  blood  streamed  from  his 
mouth,  and  he  was  dead  in  an  hour. 

"  I  am  afraid  that,  while  the  present  monster  is  in  power, 
I  shall  not  be  able  to  convene  the  disciples  for  worship,  as 
hitherto.  He  is,  however,  only  acting  on  the  orders 
which  are  understood  to  be  in  force  all  over  the  country, 
proscriptive  of  the  Christian  religion.  I  feel  the  blow 
most  deeply,  for  I  had  just  succeeded  in  reorganizing  a 


130  ADONIKAM   JUDSON, 

little  church  out  of  old  materials  and  some  lately  baptized, 
amounting  in  number  to  eleven,  nearly  all  pure  Burmese  ; 
and  last  Sunday  I  had  an  assembly  of  above  twenty.  Sev- 
eral new  ones  were  expected  to-day ;  and  two  would  prob- 
ably have  been  baptized.  I  had  become  so  attached  to 
the  little  church  and  assembly,  and  so  glad  on  every  return- 
ing Lord's  day  to  lay  aside  my  tedious  dictionary  labors, 
and  spend  all  the  day  in  obtaining  and  communicating 
spiritual  refreshment,  that  the  present  interruption  seems 
almost  too  hard  to  bear.  However,  I  hope  to  do  something 
yet  in  private,  to  aid  a  few  perishing  souls,  who  are  struggling 
through  darkness  and  terror,  to  find  a  way  of  escape  from 
the  more  dread  darkness  and  terror  of  eternal  death.  But 
everything  must  be  done  in  private.  Not  even  a  tract 
can  be  given  publicly.  That  point  I  ascertained  a  few 
years  ago,  on  a  visit  to  the  place,  which,  I  believe,  I  never 
mentioned  in  writing  home.  In  order  to  test  the  real 
extent  and  efficiency  of  the  king's  order,  prohibiting  the 
distribution  of  books  at  Ava,  I  opened  a  box  of  tracts  in 
the  front  part  of  the  house  where  I  was  a  guest  for  a  few 
days.  The  people  took  them  greedily ;  but  in  less  than 
an  hour  my  assistant,  Ko  En,  was  arrested  and  placed  in 
confinement.  It  cost  me  a  great  deal  to  get  him  free ; 
and  when  he  was  released,  it  was  on  condition  that  he 
would  give  no  more  tracts.  This  time,  therefore,  I  brought 
no  tracts  for  distribution,  and  have  confined  myself  to  pri- 


THE  BURMAN   APOSTLE.  131 

vate  conversation,  except  convening  an  assembly  for  wor- 
ship (and  that  in  an  "  upper  room")  every  Lord's  day. 

"June  6.  Lord's-day.  No  formal  worship  ;  but  a  fine 
young  man  whom  we  had  concluded  to  receive  into  the 
church,  son  of  one  of  the  oldest  converts,  spent  the  day 
with  me,  in  company  with  two  or  three  others ;  and  just 
at  night  we  repaired  to  the  remote  side  of  the  old  baptiz- 
ing place,  and  under  cover  of  the  bushes  perpetrated  a 
deed  which  I  trust  our  enemies  will  not  be  able  to  gainsay 
or  invalidate  to  all  eternity. 

"  8.  Yesterday  morning  the  young  man,  on  returning  to 
his  residence,  a  few  miles  distant,  met  his  father  under 
arrest,  in  the  hands  of  the  myrmidons  of  government,  on 
their  way  to  the  court  of  the  governor,  —  not,  I  was  glad  to 
learn,  the  ferocious  vice-governor  above  mentioned.  One 
of  the  converts  ran  to  give  me  notice  ;  and  for  two  or  three 
hours  I  sat  expecting  the  worst.  But  the  blow  was  averted 
as  suddenly  as  it  was  aimed.  '  What  have  you  brought 
the  man  before  me  for  ?  '  said  the  officer.  '  To  be  exam- 
ined on  a  charge  of  heresy,  and  frequenting  the  house  of 
Jesus  Christ's  teacher,'  said  the  leading  accuser.  '  On 
what  authority  ?  '  '  Here  is  your  written  order.'  '  What 
—  who — I  have  given  no  order.  It  must  be  one  of  my 
petty  clerks.  It  is  all  a  mistake.  Go  about  your  busi- 
ness.' '  I  thought  it  strange,'  rallied  the  arrested,  'that 
you  should  summon  me  on  a  charge  of  heresy,  as  it  is  well 
known  that  I  worship  the  true  God.'  '  God,'  said  the 


132  ADONIRAM    JUDSON, 

officer,  rather  nettled,  '  worship  any  god  you  like ' — '  or 
the  devil,'  promptly  added  a  virago,  sitting  on  an  official 
cushion,  at  his  side,  — '  if  you  villagers  just  pay  your 
taxes,  what  more  do  we  want  of  you  ? ' 

"  As  near  as  we  can  ascertain  the  truth  of  this  strange 
affair,  —  the  officer,  after  sending  off  the  order  early  in  the 
morning,  not  entertaining  the  least  doubt  that  the  measure 
would  be  approved,  as  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  is  under- 
stood to  be  universally  proscribed,  stepped,  however,  into 
the  government  house,  and  reported  what  he  had  done ; 
and  the  governor,  remembering  his  pledge  to  me  on  my 
first  arrival,  quashed  the  proceedings.  Thanks  be  to  God." 

The  great  works  of  Dr.  Judson's  life,  were  the  translation 
of  the  Bible  into  the  Burmese  language  and  the  compiling 
of  a  Burmese  Dictionary.  The  former,  he  was  enabled  to 
complete;  the  latter  was  not  entirely  finished  when  he 
went  down  to  his  watery  tomb.  When  the  translation  was 
completed,  he  took  the  last  leaf  in  his  hand  and  kneeled 
before  God,  and  thanked  him  for  the  aid  which  had  been 
rendered  in  the  service,  and  for  the  success  which  had 
crowned  the  effort. 

We  now  approach  the  closing  scene  in  the  life  of  our 
subject.  That  the  manner  of  his  death  should  be  a  theme 
of  sad  and  melancholy  pleasure  cannot  be  doubted,  and  we 
have  all  read  of  the  closing  hours  of  his  life  with  much 
satisfaction.  His  death  was  worthy  of  his  exalted  station, 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  133 

and  his  career  of  usefulness  and  honor.  In  March  last, 
the  sad  intelligence  was  received  in  this  country,  that  the 
beloved  man,  whose  life  stretched  itself  through  all  the 
history  of  American  missions,  was  in  a  declining  state,  and 
had  left  his  companion  and  her  children,  to  try  the  efficacy 
of  a  voyage  upon  the  deep.  A  melancholy  sensation  was 
felt  throughout  the  land.  The  conviction  could  not  be 
resisted,  that  Judson  was  near  his  end ;  that  his  long  and 
useful  labors  were  winding  to  a  close.  The  hearts  of 
Christians  went  up  to  God  in  prayer,  that,  if  possible,  he 
might  be  spared ;  but,  even  ere  those  prayers  were  oflered, 
the  sea  had  become  his  grave,  and  the  coral  his  coffin. 
We  waited  in  anxiety  to  learn  the  result :  and  it  soon  came. 
Dr.  Judson  died  April  12,  1850.  He  was  on  board 
the  French  barque  Aristide  Marie,  on  his  way  to  the  Isle 
of  Bourbon.  When  a  few  days  out,  it  became  evident 
that  he  could  not  long  survive.  The  two  Burman  disciples 
who  accompanied  him  to  the  vessel,  and  remained  on  board 
until  the  pilot  returned,  bore  back  to  the  native  Christians 
the  melancholy  intelligence,  that  the  "  teacher"  would  soon 
be  buried  in  the  ocean.  After  Ko  En  and  Ko  Sway  Dake 
had  left  the  vessel,  the  illness  of  the  invalid  increased,  and 
his  disease  rapidly  gained  the  advantage  over  him.  He 
was  not  permitted  to  talk  much.  His  bodily  distress  was  so 
great  that  all  power  of  speech  was  frequently  taken  away, 
and  yet  his  hope  in  Christ  wavered  not.  He  was  calm 
and  composed,  though  aware  that  he  should  soon  be  buried 
9* 


134  ADON1RAM   JT7DSON, 

in  the  sea.  When  asked  "  If  his  hope  in  God  was  strong," 
he  replied,  laying  his  hand  on  his  heart,  and  looking  up- 
ward, "  It  is  all  right  there." 

On  Friday,  about  four  o'clock,  his  sun  went  down ;  and 
a  long  life  of  usefulness  and  honor  closed.  "His  death," 
says  the  attendant,  "  was  like  falling  asleep.  Not  the 
movement  of  a  muscle  was  perceptible,  and  the  moment 
of  the  going  out  of  life  was  indicated  only  by  his  ceasing 
to  breathe.  A  gentle  pressure  of  the  hand,  growing 
more  and  more  feeble  as  life  waned,  showed  the  peaceful- 
ness  of  the  spirit  about  to  take  its  heavenward  flight." 

The  evening  came,  and  solemn  stillness  reigned  on 
board  that  heaving  vessel.  Whispering  voices  were  heard, 
telling  of  death  and  the  grave.  The  hardy,  sun-bronzed 
mariners  gathered  to  the  larboard  port,  which  was  opened, 
and  a  strong  plank  coffin  was  lowered  into  the  sea.  A 
splash  was  heard  —  the  sound  of  the  gushing  water,  as  it 
closed  over  the  cold  remains  of  the  Pioneer  Missionary, 
whose  life  had  been  chequered  with  many  a  scene  of  sor- 
row and  suffering,  and  whose  death  was  like  the  extin- 
guishment of  one  of  the  brightest  luminaries  which  ever 
shone  in  the  horizon  of  a  missionary  Church. 

The  event  teaches  its  own  solemn  and  important  lessons ; 
and  while  the  sad  and  afflictive  providence  is  fresh  in  our 
minds,  those  lessons  should  be  learned.  The  facts  in  the 
life  of  Dr.  Judson  are  extensively  known.  They  have 
furnished  matter  of  interest  to  many  a  pious  heart,  and 


THE  EURMAN   APOSTLE.  135 

the  recital  of  them  has  awakened  emotions  of  the  holiest 
character  in  many  a  heaven-aspiring  soul.  That  this  good 
man  was  above  the  frailties  of  men,  we  do  not  affirm ; 
that  he  was  a  sinner,  like  others  around  him,  is  not  denied, 
and  we  would  present  no  object  of  worship  to  the  human 
mind.  But  that  he  was  a  better  man,  a  more  self-denying 
man,  a  more  useful  man,  than  most  others,  can  hardly  be 
denied.  His  very  position  strengthened  his  faith,  and 
gave  a  high  tone  to  all  his  religious  feelings.  He  left  the 
world  when  he  stepped  upon  the  deck  of  the  Caravan, 
and  henceforward  was  enabled  to  live  above  its  debasing 
influence.  We  have  not  his  grave  —  the  waves  to-day 
are  sweeping  over  his  bones,  and  the  monsters  of  the  deep 
are  playing  around  his  narrow  tenement.  The  storm 
moans  above  his  head,  and  the  wild  winds,  as  they  sweep 
on,  pour  out  upon  the  silence  of  the  sea  their  sad  and 
solemn  requiem. 

But  though  that  sacred  dust  is  not  committed  to  our 
care,  —  though  we  are  not  permitted  to  rear  a  monument 
over  those  hallowed  relics,  God  will  keep  them ;  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  resurrection  the  sea  shall  give  up  its 
dead,  and  that  once  chained  and  fettered  body  shall  come 
forth  to  a  glorious  change.  It  fell  corruptible ;  it  shall 
rise  incorruptible  :  it  died  a  natural  body ;  it  shall  rise  a 
spiritual  body  :  and  as  the  glory  of  the  cefestial  surpasses 
the  glory  of  the  terrestrial,  so  shall  the  new  body  surpass 
the  old,  and  be  the  theme  of  angelic  wonder,  as  the  hosts 


136  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

on  high  behold  the  once  sinful  man  wearing  the  same  form 
as  that  in  which  Christ  ascended  after  his  crucifixion. 

"Unfold  thy  vesture,  changing  sea, 

And  keep  this  sacred  form  from  harm ; 
Wail  out  your  dirge,  and  let  it  be 
The  meanings  of  the  midnight  storm." 

It  is  natural  for  the  living  to  love  the  graves  of  the 
dead.  There  gathers  around  the  place  where  rest  the 
ashes  of  loved  ones,  the  most  tender  and  hallowed  asso- 
ciations. Weeping  fathers,  and  broken-hearted  mothers, 
resort  to  the  field  of  graves,  long  after  the  bodies  of  their 
children  have  returned  unto  the  dust.  They  plant  flow- 
ers, and  water  them  with  tears,  though  they  are  sensible 
that  nothing  but  corruption  slumbers  beneath  the  sod. 
They  leave  the  busy  walks  of  life,  to  hold  communion 
with  the  memory  of  the  fallen ;  and  of  all  places  on  earth, 
the  graveyard  is  the  one  in  which  tears  are  most  freely 
and  sincerely  shed.  If  a  brother  or  sister  departs  this 
life,  far  from  home,  amid  scenes  of  savage  wildncss,  money, 
time,  and  labor  are  expended  to  return  the  cold  re- 
mains, that  they  may  slumber  within  sight  of  the  roof 
which  covers  the  living.  From  distant  lands,  the  decay- 
ing body  often  comes,  unaccompanied  by  the  spirit,  that 
stricken  relatives  may  have  the  poor  consolation  of  guard- 
ing it  from  the  profane  tread  of  the  sacrilegious  stranger. 

It  is  also  the  natural  and  often  expressed  wish  of  the 
dying,  to  be  buried  at  home,  amid  the  habitations  of 


THE    BURMAN   APOSTLE.  137 

kindred  and  clime.  There  is  something  lonely  in  the  idea 
of  being  buried  where  no  friend  can  ever  come  to  muse  in 
sadness,  and  where  not  even  a  rough  stone  will  tell  to  the 
passing  traveler,  that  a  fellow-being  lies  beneath.  It 
gives  an  anguish  to  the  parting  hour,  to  remember  that  the 
bones  will  be  borne  away  —  covered  up  —  forgotten. 
Hence,  men  have  sought  out  pleasant  groves,  and  set  them 
apart  to  a  holy  purpose.  They  have  adorned  them,  with 
many  a  token  of  skill  and  art :  they  have  raised  monu- 
ments and  inscribed  tender  sentences  upon  them ;  they 
have  chosen  the  very  spots  where  their  own  bones  shall 
repose,  and 'plan ted  roses  which  hereafter  shall  be  nur- 
tured by  their  own  perishing  systems. 

"  There  shall  the  yew  her  sable  branches  spread, 
And  mournful  cypress  rear  her  fringed  head  ; 
From  thence  shall  thyme  and  myrtle  send  perfume, 
And  laurel  evergreens  o'ershade  the  tomb." 

This  attention  to  the  resting-places  of  the  dead,  is  not 
peculiar  to  the  highest  state  of  civilization.  The  semi- 
barbarous  nations,  yielding  to  the  natural  convictions  and 
longings  of  humanity,  have  their  cemeteries,  and  their 
tombs ;  and  even  dark,  benighted  heathenism  is  not  alto- 
gether destitute  of  holy  reverence  for  the  ashes  of  the  dead. 

Such  being  the  natural,  universal  feeling  of  our  nature, 
it  is  not  strange  that  the  great  denomination  to  which 
Dr.  Judson  belonged,  should  have  desired  him  to  die  in 
some  spot  where  a  monument  of  marble  could  have  been 


138  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

erected  over  his  grave.  It  is  not  surprising  that  the 
thousands  of  Christians  who  have  marked  his  course,  and 
beheld  his  labors,  should  have  wished-  his  bones  to  remain 
as  a  legacy  to  his  brethren ;  that  his  grave  might  have 
been  made  beneath  the  hopia-tree,  or  on  the  rocky  bosom 
of  "the  seagirt  Isle,"  where,  with  one  or  the  other  of 
those  noble  women,  it  might  have  remained  until  the 
sound  of  the  last  trumpet  was  heard,  calling  all  men  to  judg- 
ment. But  He  who  presides  over  all  things,  has  otherwise 
ordained.  This  hope  of  a  waiting,  praying  Church  has 
been  disappointed — disappointed  in  wisdom  and  goodness. 
For  the  same  reason  that  the  Israelites  weremot  allowed 
to  have  the  bones  and  the  grave  of  Moses,  has  the  body 
of  the  "Apostle  of  Missions"  been  wrapped  in  seaweed, 
and  given  to  the  waves.  Endeared  as  he  was  to  all  sects 
and  parties,  the  monument  reared  to  his  memory  might 
have  been  too  proud  and  costly  to  mark  the  grave  of  a 
herald  of  salvation.  The  living  might  have  been  injured 
by  too  much  attention  to  a  corpse  from  which  life  had 
departed,  and  praise  might  have  been  written  there,  which 
should  have  been  ascribed  to  Him  whose  name  is  God,  and 
whose  dominion  is  over  all.  And  who  would  wish  to  alter 
this  wise  and  judicious  arrangement  ?  It  would  be  mock- 
ery, to  raise  a  monument  of  marble  to  the  memory  of  such 
a  man  as  Judson.  His  works  will  live  after  marble  has 
decayed ;  his  name  is  written  on  the  hearts,  and  in  the 
lives,  of  a  multitude  of  converted  heathen ;  his  worth  is 


THE   BUEMAN   APOSTLE.  139 

acknowledged  by  the  whole  Christian  world ;  his  piety  is 
recorded  on  the  very  fetters  and  prisons  of  the  vast  Bur- 
man  empire.  It  is'  not  fitting  that  a  train  of  pilgrims 
should  yearly  visit  the  grave  of  such  a  servant  of  God,  to 
weep  there  ;  for  every  year  a  train  goes  up  from  the  scene 
of  his  toils  —  a  train  of  converted  barbarians,  to  ascribe, 
under  God,  their  salvation  to  the  instrumentality  of  his 
labors.  It  is  not  well  that  his  name  should  be  seen 
carved  and  gilded  ;  it  is  written  in  the  Book  of  Life ;  it  is 
pronounced  in  heaven ;  it  is  repeated  by  the  Redeemer. 

"  Deep  in  the  ocean  wave,  in  coral  bed, 

The  hero  of  a  hundred  battles  sleeps  ; 
Above  his  watery  tomb  no  prayer  is  said, 

But  round  the  sinking  form  the  billow  sweeps. 

"  Far  down  where  mighty  monsters  howling  dwell, 

In  seaweed  for  his  shroud,  the  Christian  lies  ; 
No  marble  mausoleum  the  spot  doth  tell, 
No  willow  weeps,  no  heathen  convert  cries. 

"  But  o'er  that  watery  grave,  the  angels  keep 

Their  ceaseless  vigils ;  and  the  stars  of  night 
Look  down,  with  tenderness,  upon  the  sleep 
Of  him,  who  waketh  not  to  pray  or  fight. 

"  The  funeral  dirge  is  sung  in  every  land, 

By  men  of  every  age,  and  tribe,  and  tongue ; 
The  wild  Karen,  the  rescued  Burman  band, 
With  paler  men,  the  mournful  lyre  have  strung. 

"  Howl  on,  ye  winds,  and  wildly  moan,  ye  breath  ; 

Ye  heard  his  sigh,  ye  bore  to  heaven  his  prayer; 
As  from  this  world  of  sorrow,  sin,  and  death, 
He  turned  to  one  more  beautiful  and  fair." 


140  ADONIRAM   JUDSON, 

We  have  now  followed  Dr.  Judson  through  his  long 
and  arduous  life.  We  have  seen,  in  his  time,  the  com- 
mencement of  an  undertaking  which  will  never  be  finished 
until  all  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  shall  be  brought  into 
the  service  of  Christ.  The  fall  of  this  early  laborer  has 
stirred  the  depth  of  feeling  in  the  religious  community ; 
and  it  now  remains  to  be  seen,  whether  his  death  is  to 
give  that  impulse  to  our  exertions  which  God  so  evidently 
intends  it  should  give.  The  death  of  every  missionary 
places  the  Christian  church  under  obligation  to  the  heathen 
world,  and  increases  to  a  great  degree  the  responsibility  of 
those  who  profess  the  name  of  Christ.  Almost  every  ship 
which  comes  from  a  heathen  land,  brings  the  intelligence  that 
some  new  grave  has  been  made,  and  some  new  form  has 
been  laid  to  rest.  Since  the  organization  of  the  Triennial 
Convention,  many  have  been  the  occasions  of  mourning  over 
losses  which  have  been  sustained;  and  often  have  the  gath- 
erings of  the  Board  been  rendered  scenes  of  sadness,  on 
account  of  new  intelligence  of  this  afflictive  character. 
The  whole  of  heathendom  is  dotted  with  the  graves  of  the 
just,  and  each  year  new  names  are  added  to  the  already 
lengthened  catalogue.  If  we  go  back  in  time,  and  far 
away  in  distance,  we  find,  reposing  at  Chittagong,  the  re- 
mains of  James  Coleman,  over  which  "the  daughters  of 
Arracan  mourn ;  "  Edward  Wheelock,  his  bosom  compan- 
ion and  friend,  sleeps  in  the  ocean,  into  which  he  threw 
himself,  in  a  moment  of  delirium,  on  his  voyage  to  this 


THE   BURMAN    APOSTLE.  141 

country;  at  Tavoy,  \ve  find  the  grave  of  Boardman,  and 
are  urged  to  hear  his  eulogy  in  the  songs  of  ransomed 
heathen ;  at  Araherst,  sleeps  the  first  Mrs.  Judson,  and  at 
St.  Helena,  is  the  second ;  Mrs.  Shuck  has  made  her  grave 
in  the  celestial  empire  ;  the  bones  of  Mrs.  James  are 
whitening  in  the  harbor  of  Hongkong,  clasped  in  the  flesh- 
less  arms  of  her  husband,  who  went  down  with  her  to  the 
same  grave ;  the  form  of  Mrs.  Comstock  reposes  at  Ram- 
ree,  and  that  of  Miss  Macomber  in  the  jungles  of  Dong 
Yahn ;  Crocker  is  among  the  dark  Ethiopians,  where 
naught  disturbs  his  rest ;  Mr.  Comstock  is  at  Akyab, 
where  his  grave  calls  more  loudly  for  laborers  than  did 
his  living  voice,  when  he  exclaimed,  "  Remember,  brother 
Kincaid,  six  men  for  Arracan  ; "  Mrs.  Abbott  lies  at 
Sandoway,  with  a  child  on  either  side  of  her ;  Tavoy  claims 
the  sainted  form  of  Mrs.  Mason ;  Canton  is  the  sleeping- 
place  of  Mrs.  Devan ;  Mr.  Clark  was  buried  in  the  waves 
on  his  return  from  Africa,  and  many  others  on  land  and  in 
the  ocean,  endear  the  cause  in  which  they  suffered  and 
died  to  every  pious  heart.  And  now,  as  the  ocean  has 
engulphed  a  new  form,  and  closed  over  one  whose  life 
was  a  long,  bright  illustration  of  Christian  virtues,  Religion 
asks  her  weeping  children,  what  effect  it  shall  have  upon 
their  lives,  and  what  new  impulse  it  shall  give  to  the  mis- 
sionary cause. 

We  cannot  look  upon  the  death  of  Judson  as  a  judg- 
ment, or  a  warning,  neither  do  we  view  it  as  a  calamity ; 


142  ADONIRAM  JUD80N, 

and  though  the  event  is  surrounded  with  sad  and  tearful 
remembrances,  such  a  departure  from  earth  to  heaven  can 
only  be  regarded  as  a  victory  over  the  last  and  most  terri- 
ble enemy  frail  man  ever  has  to  encounter.  His  death  was 
a  glorious  life  brought  to  a  glorious  close  ;  and  though  the 
sea  claims  his  bones,  the  solid  land  is  covered  with  his  mourn- 
ers, who  move  about  as  the  evidences  of  his  faithfulness. 

And  when  the  time  of  restoration  shall  come,  and  the 
earth  shall  send  up  its  millions,  and  the  sea  shall  deliver 
up  the  dead  that  are  in  it,  that  body  will  appear,  and  min- 
gle with  the  loved  company  of  redeemed  and  glorified  ones, 
•who  have  toiled  in  the  divine  and  life-giving  cause,  for 
which  Christ  himself  became  the  first  and  most  glorious 
martyr.  Then,  from  Ramree  and  Akyab,  and  Sandoway 
and  Amherst,  and  Dong  Yahn  and  St.  Helena,  and  from 
the  sea,  shall  come  forth  those  who  fell  with  their  armor  on, 
upon  the  battle-field  of  life,  and  perished  in  the  cause  of 
human  salvation.  They  shall  come,  not  as  they  fell,  but 
clothed  afresh,  and  prepared  for  immortal  being ;  and  if 
among  them  is  one  whose  head  wears  a  crown  of  greater 
brilliancy  than  any  other,  whose  robe  has  been  purified  by 
more  severe  trials,  whose  life  had  more  of  faith,  and  hope, 
and  holiness,  we  doubt  not  that  one  will  be  THE  PIONEER 

MISSIONARY,  THE  APOSTLE  OF  BlJRMAH,  THE  LOVER  OF  HIS 
RACE,  THE  FRIEND  OF  GOD, 

Jtofcson. 


APPENDIX. 


IT  has  been  thought  advisable  to  append  to  this  Sketch, 
short  biographical  notices  of  the  early  associates  of  Dr.  Jud- 
son.  Well  worthy  are  they  of  enduring  honor,  such  as  few 
other  men  have  been  able  to  secure,  and  their  names  are  reg- 
istered almost  alone,  in  the  moral  daring  and  holy  grandexir 
of  their  glorious  enterprise. 

GORDON  HALL, 

Was  born  at  Tolland,  amid  the  mountains  of  Berkshire. 
He  was  educated  in  all  the  stern  old  habits  of  "  the  fathers," 
and  grew  up  loving  and  respecting  religion.  In  early  life,  he 
became  a  disciple  of  Christ,  and  numbered  himself  with  the 
followers  of  the  first  great  missionary.  He  was  educated  at 
Williams  College,  and  graduated  in  1808,  with  much  honor. 
Though  not  so  brilliant  as  many  of  his  classmates,  none  sur- 
passed him  in  general  scholarship ;  and  the  stand  taken  by 
him,  in  his  class,  was  creditable  to  himself  and  gratifying  to 
his  friends.  He  went  out  from  College  with  a  strong  heart,  to 
do  battle  for  God  and  the  right,  and  to  lift  up  the  Cross,  as  the 
great  reformatory  agent  before  which  every  chain  should  be 
broken,  every  vice  disappear,  and  every  sin  be  forgiven.  He 
studied  theology,  and  drank  deep  at  the  fountains  bowled  out 
by  the  New  England  divines  of  a  century  ago.  His  soul 
wandered,  with  Edwards,  Hopkins,  and  Emmons,  through  the 
unfathomable  depths,  and  along  the  awful  heights,  of  the  sub- 
lime doctrines  of  grace. 


144  APPENDIX. 

At  Andover,  he  became  acquainted  with  the  heroic  young 
men  who  were  planning  the  world's  conversion,  and  at  once 
entered  into  their  mighty  project,  and  gave  his  heart  and 
hand  to  its  accomplishment.  He  heard  the  Saviour  saying  to 
him,  "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
every  creature."  He  felt  and  owned  the  obligation,  and  made 
immediate  preparation  to  go  far  hence  to  the  Gentiles,  among 
them  to  declare  the  word  of  life. 

While  the  subject  of  a  missionary  life  was  under  discussion, 
he  received  a  very  advantageous  invitation  to  become  the  pas- 
tor of  a  favored  church  in  New  England,  but  he  could  not  ac- 
cept it.  There  were  young  men  enough  at  home,  and  none  to 
go  abroad ;  and,  at  the  sacrifice  of  his  worldly  influence  and 
prosperity,  he  declined  the  call,  and  decided,  with  generous 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  to  go  forth  to  the  region  and 
shadow  of  death ;  to  meet  pleasure  or  pain,  joy  or  sorrow,  as 
the  providence  of  God  might  arrange.  The  consecration  to 
the  work  was  made  ;  he  was  accepted  by  the  Board,  and,  with 
his  associates,  was  ordained  in  the  Tabernacle  Church  in  Sa- 
lem, on  the  6th  of  February,  1812.  Living  witnesses  describe 
that  scene  as  one  of  surpassing  interest.  The  most  eminent 
men  of  the  land  had  congregated  to  participate  in  it,  and  the 
great  object  contemplated  awed  each  heart,  and  gave  solemnity 
to  every  exercise. 

Mr.  Hall  sailed  in  the  Harmony,  from  Philadelphia,  and,  in  a 
few  months,  was  on  heathen  soil.  But  new  difficulties  met 
him  at  every  step ;  the  change  of  opinion  on  the  part  of 
Messrs.  Judson  and  Rice,  the  hostility  to  missions  of  the  Brit- 
ish East  India  Company,  and  the  early  death  of  Mrs.  Newell, 
all  tended  to  dishearten  and  perplex.  But,  with  firm  reliance 
upon  the  arm  of  Jehovah,  the  young  men  went  forward, 
knowing  no  home  but  heaven,  no  service  but  the  work  of  God. 
After  being  exposed  to  severe  trials,  and  meeting  obstacles 
where  none  were  expected,  he  finally  selected  Bombay  as  his 
field  of  labor.  He  arrived  in  February,  1813,  and  at  once 
commenced  preparations  for  preaching  the  gospel.  Every- 
where he  was  looked  upon  with  suspicion  and  distrust,  his 


APPENDIX.  145 

most  honest  motives  were  impugned,  and,  against  the  current 
of  native  and  foreign  population,  he  was  forced  to  urge  his 
way.  But  a  missionary  should  know  no  discouragements ;  he 
should  be  appalled  at  no  obstacles ;  he  should  hesitate  at  no 
dangers.  It  is  his  work  to  advance,  streaming  the  light  ot 
Calvary  along  his  path,  leaving  the  consequences  with  God, 
who  is  able  to  direct  them  to  his  own  glory. 

For  thirteen  tedious  years,  did  Mr.  Hall  labor  in  Bombay, 
In  season,  and  out  of  season,  he  toiled  to  win  men  to  Christ, 
and,  at  last,  laid  down  his  life,  covered  with  the  scars  of  battle, 
and  with  the  laurels  of  victory.  His  chief  work  was  the  re- 
vision of  the  New  Testament  in  the  Mahratta  language,  that 
they,  who  had  never  seen  the  glory  of  the  gospel,  might  read 
in  their  own  tongue.  He  was  happy  in  being  able  to  give  the 
words  of  salvation  to  the  people,  and  had  this  been  his  only 
work,  he  would  not  have  lived  in  vain.  He  also  published  an 
"Appeal  to  American  Christians,  in  behalf  of  the  Twelve 
Millions  speaking  the  Mahratta  Language."  This  Appeal  was 
written  with  a  pen  touched  with  the  fire  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and,  scattered  through  America,  burned  in  many  pious  hearts, 
and  drew  forth  its  response  in  floods  of  gold  and  silver,  and  in 
streams  of  prayer.  It  was  a  Macedonian  cry,  coming  up  from 
the  very  heart  of  heathendom,  and  echoing  along  the  battle- 
ments of  Zion.  Old  men  read  it ;  and  said,  "  Who  will  go 
forth,  bearing  for  us,  and  supported  by  our  money,  the  banner 
of  the  Cross?"  Young  men  read  it;  and,  with  tearful  eyes 
and  prayerful  lips,  said,  "  Here  are  we  ;  send  us  !  "  Tender, 
shrinking  women  read  it ;  and,  with  all  the  ardor  of  the  fe- 
males, who,  with  the  cross  bound  upon  their  arms,  pressed 
down  with  the  mad  Crusaders  upon  the  land  of  the  Sepulchre, 
offered  themselves  as  candidates  for  the  life  of  toil.  It  stirred 
the  blood  of  age,  and  gave  direction  to  the  panting  energies 
of  youth.  It  was  to  scores  what  Buchanan's  "  Star  in  the 
East "  was  to  Judson  and  Newell,  and  to  this  day  some  are 
laboring  for  missions,  who  were  first  aroused  by  its  holy  strains. 

Mr.  Hall  also  wrote,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Newell,  an  ap- 
peal, entitled  "The  Conversion  of  the  World,  or  the  Claims 

10 


140  APPENDIX. 

of  Six  Hundred  Millions,  and  the  Ability  and  Duty  of  the 
Churches  respecting  them."  Doubtless  the  facts  contained 
in  this  interesting  document,  were  those  which  moved  the 
heart  of  Mr.  Hall  to  undertake  a  missionary  life.  By  these 
same  facts,  which  came  pressing  upon  him  as  soon  as  he  ar- 
rived on  heathen  soil,  he  was  urged  on  to  the  most  severe 
duties,  and  the  most  thankless  toils. 

After  being  among  the  heathen  awhile,  he  became  so  famil- 
iar with  the  Mahratta  language,  that  the  British  East  India 
Company  offered  him  a  salary  of  $13,000  annually,  if  he 
would  lay  aside  his  missionary  work,  and  assist  them  in  mak- 
ing contracts  with  the  natives.  When  he  refused  this  very 
generous  offer,  and  decided  to  remain  a  laborer  for  God  and 
perishing  souls,  they  offered  him  fifty  dollars  per  week,  if  he 
would  labor  for  them-  two  hours  each  day.  But  even  this 
offer  he  declined,  being  determined  to  give  his  whole  atten- 
tion and  time  to  the  work  to  which  God  had  called  him,  and 
to  which  he  had  been  set  apart  by  his  brethren. 

But  the  most  useful  life  must  have  an  end ;  the  most  de- 
voted man  must  die.  Life,  though  for  awhile  a  scene  of  ardu- 
ous toil,  ends  to  the  pious  man  in  bliss  divine. 

"  There  is  a  calm  for  those  who  weep, 

A  rest  for  weary  pilgrims  found ; 
They  softly  He,  and  sweetly  sleep, 

Low  in  the  ground ; 
The  storm  that  sweeps  the  wintry  sky 
No  more  disturbs  their  deep  repose, 
Than  summer  evening's  latest  sigh, 
That  shuts  the  rose." 

That  hallowed  calm,  beneath  the  soil,  was  found  by  Gordon 
Hall,  in  the  thirty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  He  left  his  associates 
and  friends  of  the  mission  station,  and  was  away  on  a  visit  to 
the  interior,  preaching,  as  he  went,  the  word  of  life.  As  if 
conscious  of  his  speedy  departure,  he  urged  men  to  believe  on 
Christ,  and  become  Christians.  The  claims  of  religion  he  set 


APPENDIX.  147 

forth  as  a  dying  man,  and  urged  his  hearers  to  give  their  im- 
mediate attention  to  a  work  of  the  most  awful  importance. 
While  on  this  emphatically  missionary  journey,  he  was  seized 
by  the  hand  of  death,  and  on  March  20,  1826,  fell  asleep  in 
Jesus.  His  disease  was  the  cholera  ;  his  sickness  lasted  only 
eight  hours.  There  were  but  few  present  to  see  him  die,  but 
those  few  saw  the  power  of  faith  to  conquer  the  grave,  and 
tread  down,  at  the  mouth  of  his  own  citadel,  the  monster 
Death. 

Mr.  Hall  had  peculiar  excellences  as  a  missionary.  He 
had  received  from  God  a  stout  frame  and  vigorous  constitu- 
tion. He  was  well  fitted  to  endure  the  hardships  of  a  mis- 
sionary life.  He  was  able  to  endure  toils  and  cares  under 
which  other  men  would  have  fallen  exhausted  into  the  arms  of 
death.  He  was  also  prudent  in  all  his  movements.  While  he 
labored  hard,  and  hesitated  at  no  dangers,  he  did  not  need- 
lessly expose  himself  to  disease  and  death.  He  regarded, 
with  much  care,  the  laws  which  govern  the  material  system, 
and,  by  avoiding  all  those  excesses  into  which  most  young 
men  are  liable  to  run,  saved  himself  for  many  years  to  the 
cause  of  his  divine  Redeemer.  His  habits  were  very  regular, 
and  life  was  reduced  to  a  complete  system,  each  part  of  which 
had  its  own  appropriate  time. 

He  had  a  clear  perception  of  the  windings  of  human  nature. 
He  knew  how  to  deal  with  men,  and  find  his  way  to  the  cold 
hearts  of  his  opposes.  He  seldom  made  a  misstep,  and,  like 
his  friend  Judson,  who  was  laboring  in  the  same  cause,  in 
another  part  of  the  great  field,  he  was  ever  ready  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  vast  variety  of  doubtful  circumstances.  And, 
had  not  these  men  been  endowed  with  a  high  degree  of  dis- 
cretion and  judgment,  the  whole  enterprise  might  have  been  a 
failure,  and  the  cause  of  missions  would  have  been  retarded 
for  a  century.  They  went  out  in  all  the  inexperience  of  youth, 
with  no  journals  of  other  missionaries  in  their  hands.  They 
went  to  seek  out  their  own  fields,  to  adopt  their  own  line  of 
conduct,  to  be  their  own  counsellors  and  guides.  One  wrong 
movement  might  have  been  fatal,  and  their  sailing  out  to 


148  APPENDIX. 

distant  lands  would  hare  proved  in  the  end  disastrous.  But 
God  kept  them,  and  they  moved  on,  while  over  them  the  cloud 
and  the  fire  hovered. 

Mr.  Hall  was  also  a  man  of  ardent  piety.  He  was  moved 
by  a  love  of  souls.  He  was  not  impelled  by  any  romantic 
notions  of  a  life  among  the  heathen.  "  How  can  they  be 
saved  ? "  was  his  cry,  as  he  looked  upon  the  heathen  —  as  he 
went  forth  to  save  them  from  degradation  and  woe;  He  felt 
the  words  of  his  own  appeal,  written  from  his  missionary 
home ;  he  was  moved  by  his  own  argument :  — 

"  Until  Christians  €do  take  up  the  work,  with  a  zeal  and 
activity  answerable  to  their  belief  and  hopes  in  the  gospel, 
the  unbeliever  may  continue  to  say  —  and  how  cutting  is  the 
reproach  —  yes,  sinners  may  still  ask,  '  If  Christians  really 
believe  that  Christ  has  tasted  death  for  every  man,  that  there 
is  salvation  in  no  other,  and  that  a  great  part  of  the  world  are 
actually  perishing  in  ignorance  of  this  only  Saviour  of  sinners  ; 
if  they  really  believe  all  this,  why  do  they  not  concern  them- 
selves to  have  this  gospel  made  known  to  every  creature  ? 
"Why  has  this  been  neglected  so  long  ? ' 

"  And,  alas  !  the  heathen  join  in  the  same  bitter  reproach. 
The  missionary  tells  them  that  he  has  come  to  proclaim  to 
them  a  Saviour,  the  Son  of  God,  who  has  shed  his  blood  to 
atone  for  the  sins  of  the  world ;  and  who  has  commanded  his 
servants  to  publish  the  glad  tidings  everywhere  for  the  salva- 
tion of  all  men.  '  When,'  says  the  pagan,  '  did  this  Saviour 
die  ? '  « Eighteen  hundred  years  ago,'  replies  the  missionary. 
'When  did  he  command  his  servants  to  publish  everywhere 
these  good  tidings  ? '  *  Just  before  he  ascended  from  earth  to 
heaven,  which  was  shortly  after  his  resurrection.'  '  Surpris- 
ing ! '  says  the  pagan.  '  If  you  Christians  have  known  all 
these  things,  and  really  believe  that  "  where  there  is  no  vision 
the  people  perish !  "  how  could  you  leave  so  great  a  part  of 
the  world  for  so  many  generations,  without  coming  sooner  to 
tell  us  of  this  only  way  in  which  we  can  be  saved  ? '  What 
can  the  missionary  say  ?  This  is  not  idle  fancy  :  it  is  a  matter 
of  distressing  fact." 


APPENDIX.  149 

But,  such  as  he  was,  he  is  gone.  The  men  of  India  will 
never  be  thrilled  by  his  voice  again  ;  the  Christians  of  Amer- 
ica will  never  be  moved  by  another  of  his  eloquent  appeals — 

"He  sleeps  his  last  sleep ;  he  has  fought  his  last  battle  ;  — 
No  sound  can  awake  him  to  labor  again." 

On  the  lone  secluded  spot,  away  from  the  busy  walks  of  men, 
he  slumbers.  Tears  are  shed ;  requiems  are  sung ;  sermons 
are  preached  ;  prayers  are  offered  over  his  ashes,  but  he  heeds 
them  not.  With  Newell,  and  a  host  of  others,  from  stations 
of  toil  and  suffering,  he  is  resting  from  his  labors,  and  his 
works  do  follow  him. 

Sleep  on,  noble  martyr  to  the  truth  !  sleep,  ashes  of  the 
dead  !  until,  from  on  high,  is  heard  the  trumpet  of  the  arch- 
angel ;  then  rise,  and  live,  and  reign.  Until  then, 

"  Thy  single  grave  has  eloquence, 

Which  living  tongues  have  not ; 
For  know,  the  love  of  Jesus 

Has  sanctified  the  spot. 
Go  thither,  proud  idolater, 

And,  kneeling  on  that  sod, 
Own  that  a  prayer  —  a  heartfelt  prayer  — 

Alone  avails  with  God." 


150  APPENDIX. 


LUTHER  RICE. 

This  Christian  laborer  was  one  of  the  first  heralds  of  salva- 
tion. He  was  ordained  with  his  brethren,  and  sailed  with 
Hall  and  Nott,  from  Philadelphia,  in  the  Harmony.  On  his 
voyage,  he  was  converted  to  the  sentiments  of  the  Baptists, 
and  was  baptized  by  the  missionaries  at  Serampore.  He  was  a 
man  of  true  heart  and  laborious  life,  and  his  connection  with 
the  Baptist  church  at  Serampore,  gave  great  joy  to  Judson, 
who  alone,  and  against  a  tide  of  circumstances,  had  pursued 
the  same  course,  and  taken  upon  himself  the  same  service. 

Soon  after  his  baptism,  he  addressed  the  following  letter  to 
the  Baptist  Mission  Society,  in  this  country,  which  body 
adopted  him  as  fc  laborer.  It  will  be  read,  at  this  distance  of 
time  from  the  hour  which  gave  it  birth,  with  interest. 

"  Probably,  before  this,  you  have  received  communications 
from  Mr.  Judson,  one  of  the  missionaries  lately  sent  out  to 
India  by  '  The  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 
Missions,'  announcing  his  recent  change  of  sentiments  in  rela- 
tion to  baptism,  and  soliciting  aid  from  the  Baptist  churches 
in  America,  to  enable  him  to  prosecute  missionary  labors  among 
the  heathen.  A  communication  from  me,  of  a  somewhat  sim- 
ilar purport,  may  also  have  been  received.  If  these  commu- 
nications have  been  received,  and  others  from  Dr.  Carey,  or 
from  any  of  the  missionaries  at  Serampore,  it  may  occasion 
surprise  to  learn  that  I  am  on  my  way,  returning  to  America. 
The  truth  of  the  matter  is,  that  brother  Judson  and  myself 
being  at  the  Isle  of  France,  and  having  determined  upon 
attempting  to  effectuate  a  mission  at  Penang,  having  the  Malay 
countries,  generally,  for  its  ultimate  object,  were  waiting  the 
opportunity  of  a  passage  to  that  place.  But  as  an  opportunity 
unexpectedly  offered  of  getting  to  the  United  States,  by  com- 
ing to  this  place  in  a  Portuguese  vessel,  the  posture  of  affairs 
was  such,  that  we  judged  it  expedient  for  me  to  avail  myself 
of  it,  and  visit  our  brethren  in  our  native  country.  On  account 


APPENDIX.  151 

of  the  war,;which  may  a  merciful  God  soon  terminate,  we 
apprehended  that  it  would  be  a  long  while  before  we  could 
possibly  hear  from  our  brethren  in  America;  and  we  were 
likely  to  continue  for  a  long  time  in  uncertainty  respecting  sup- 
port ;  and  though  we  could  avail  ourselves  of  some  temporary 
aid  from  our  beloved  and  very  excellent  friends,  the  missiona- 
ries at  Serampore,  and  might  obtain  perhaps  ultimately  the 
patronage  of  a  foreign  Society,  should  all  other  resources  fail 
us  ;  still,  under  a  sincere  conviction  that  the  missionary  cause 
would  be  more  advanced  by  the  formation  of  a  Baptist  Society 
in  America,  that  should  afford  us  the  necessary  patronage,  than 
by  our  becoming  the  missionaries  of  a  foreign  Society,  it  was, 
we  conceived,  clearly  our  duty,  as  well  as  much  better  com- 
ported with  our  feelings  than  the  other  alternative  could,  to 
cast  ourselves  into  your  hands,  and  the  hands  of  the  Baptist 
churches  in  America.  Nor  could  we  allow  ourselves  to  doubt, 
that,  as  the  Lord  had  manifested  peculiar  mercy  in  leading  us 
to  adopt  more  apostolic  views  than  we  had  formerly  enter- 
tained in  relation  to  the  ordinances  of  his  house ;  he  would 
also  incline  our  brethren  to  extend  to  us  that  patronage  which 
might  enable  us  to  prosecute  those  missionary  purposes  and 
labors,  to  which  we  have,  I  trust,  sincerely  and  sacredly 
devoted  our  lives.  We  could  not,  indeed,  be  insensible  that 
our  brethren,  as  well  as  others,  must  feel  the  pressure  of  pub- 
lic calamity  and  burden  created  by  the  war,  in  which,  unfor- 
tunately, the  country  is  involved.  But  we  know  also  that  the 
Baptist  churches  in  England,  notwithstanding'the  incessant 
wars  in  which  that  country  has  been  involved,  have  patronized 
missionary  operations  to  an  extent  which  has  accomplished 
objects  of  the  greatest  magnitude  and  importance,  and  erected 
monuments  of  successful  efforts  which  cannot  be  destroyed 
even  by  the  dissolution  of  the  world  and  the  death  of  time. 
Nor  could  we  do  otherwise  than  assure  ourselves  that  our 
brethren  in  the  United  States  have  equal  love  for  the  Lord 
Jesus  ;  and  certainly  not  less  zeal  for  diffusing  the  savor  of  his 
precious  name  among  those  who  must,  otherwise,  perish  for 
lack  of  vision.  Of  the  indispensable  obligations  of  Chris- 


152  APPENDIX. 

tians  in  general  to  make,  in  some  way  or  other,  missionary 
efforts,  a  missionary  himself  cannot  be  supposed  to  entertain  a 
doubt.  The  command  of  his  divine  Master,  in  this  particular, 
he  conceives  to  be  as  plain  as  it  is  binding,  and  to  be  of  the 
utmost  consequence  to  be  fulfilled.  And  with  respect  to 
brother  Judson  and  myself,  you  will  suffer  me,  dear  sir,  to  re- 
mark, that,  having  experienced  in  so  remarkable  a  manner 
the  good  hand  of  our  God  upon  us,  in  leading  us  to  renounce 
the  prepossessions  of  education,  and  our  preconceived,  but  mis- 
taken opinions,  and  to  adopt  views  in  relation  to  the  sacred  and 
important  ordinance  of  baptism,  conformable  to  Scripture  and 
to  apostolic  practice,  and  to  take  upon  us  the  solemn  profession 
of  Christ  in  this  appropriate  rite,  by  being  immersed,  after 
the  example  of  our  divine  Master  himself;  we  could  not 
but  feel  as  if  those  who  are  led  into  the  truth  in  this  particular 
are  bound  to  make  great  sacrifices,  and  determined  efforts  for 
disseminating  in  its  holy  simplicity  and  purity,  the  truth  as  it  is 
in  Jesus.  And  I  allow  myself  freely  to  indulge  the  hope,  that 
the  sentiments  and  feelings  of  our  brethren  will  happily  re- 
spond to  our  own  on  this  subject. 

"  To  the  venerable  and  beloved  Board,  I  have,  as  yet,  made 
no  communication  of  a  decisive  character,  except  in  regard  to 
the  simple  fact  of  my  change  of  sentiments.  And  even  that 
communication  may  never  have  arrived.  However,  as  I  could 
not  justify  myself  in  presuming  on  the  continuance  of  their 
patronage,  I  have  perceived  no  impropriety  in  uniting  with 
brother  Judson  in  soliciting  aid  and  patronage  from  our  Bap- 
tist brethren  in  America.  Nor  have  I  any  doubt  that  my  in- 
teresting connection  with  the  venerable  Board  may  be  im- 
mediately and  satisfactorily  dissolved  on  my  arrival,  so  as  to 
leave  me  at  your  disposal,  my  dear  sir,  should  you  be  pleased 
to  accept  me  as  your  missionary.  I  must  indulge  the  freedom 
to  observe,  however,  that  I  shall  be  extremely  solicitous  to  re- 
turn to  India  as  soon  as  possible.  I  shall  strongly  wish  to 
avail  myself  of  the  very  first  opportunity,  even  should  it  oc- 
cur early  in  autumn,  of  returning  to  the  Brazils  in  some  Portu- 
guese vessel,  unless,  which  cannot  be  expected,  a  more  direct 


APPENDIX.  153 

passage  to  India,  should  offer.  My  solicitude  is  the  more 
keenly  ardent  in  this  particular,  because,  in  addition  to  the 
loss  of  time,  brother  and  sister  Judson,  with  whom  I  have  the 
happiness  to  be  no  less  united  in  affection  than  in  sentiment, 
must  remain  alone  till  my  return.  Impelled  by  the  strong 
tide  of  my  anxious  feelings,  I  should  proceed  to  use  entreaties 
relative  to  the  formation  of  a  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  or 
the  adoption  of  some  measures  by  the  Baptist  churches  in 
America,  for  the  effectual  and  permanent  patronage  of  a  mis- 
sion offered  to  them  by  so  remarkable  a  dispensation  of  divine 
Providence  ;  but  that  I  conceive  it  my  duty,  in  submission  to 
your  age  and  wisdom,  and  in  confidence  of  your  love  and  zeal 
for  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  commit  myself  to  your 
direction,  trusting  that  the  Lord  himself  will  put  it  in  your 
heart  to  do  that  in  relation  to  this  important  concern,  which 
shall  best  subserve  the  advancement  of  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom, and  the  purposes  of  his  own  glory." 

Mr.  Rice  was  baptized  a  short  time  subsequent  to  the  bap- 
tism of  Mr.  Judson  and  his  companion.  The  same  hand 
which  led  them  down  into  the  water,  conducted  him  to  the 
liquid  sepulchre  ;  the  same  witnesses  gazed  on  to  behold  the 
deed,  and  the  same  joyful  song  swelled  out,  sung  by  converted 
heathen  and  Christianized  idolaters.  This  change  of  religious 
opinions  caused  a  separation  in  the  little  company  of  disciples. 
Mr.  Judson  and  Mr.  Rice,  made  immediate  arrangements  to 
withdraw  from  the  American  Board,  and  place  themselves 
under  the  patronage  of  another  body.  The  order  being  issued 
for  them  to  leave  the  country,  Mr.  Rice  and  his  fellow-laborers 
sought  refuge  in  the  Isle  of  France,  where,  after  remaining 
awhile,  he  determined  to  return  to  America,  and  stir  up  the 
churches  to  action  upon  the  great  question  of  the  age.  He 
accordingly  sailed,  via  San  Salvador,  and  arrived  in  the  States, 
in  September,  1813,  having  been  absent  from  home  and  coun- 
try nearly  two  years.  He  was  immediately  appointed  agent 
of  the  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  and  went  into  the  Southern 
States  to  secure  funds  for  the  purpose  proposed. 


154  APPENDIX. 

In  1814,  delegates  from  the  Baptist  churches  throughout  the 
Union,  assembled  in  Philadelphia,  to  "  organize  a  plan  for 
eliciting,  combining,  and  directing  the  energies  of  the  whole 
denomination  in  one  sacred  effort  for  sending  the  glad  tidings 
of  salvation  to  the  heathen,  and  to  nations  destitute  of  pure 
gospel  light."  At  that  meeting,  resolutions  were  passed, 
making  Mr.  Rice  the  agent  of  the  Convention,  and  a  Home 
Missionary,  to  labor  among  the  churches  for  the  promotion 
of  missionary  objects. 

The  College  in  the  District  of  Columbia  was  under  the  con- 
trol of  this  body  until  a  separation  occurred  between  the 
North  and  South,  in  1846,  when  it  was  relinquished,  and  be- 
came the  care  of  the  Southern  Board,  which  had  just  been 
organized.  For  the  Convention,  Mr.  Rice  labored  with  un- 
tiring assiduity,  and,  though  he  was  not  always  prudent  in  his 
movements,  though  his  business  habits  did  not  altogether  qual- 
ify him  for  his  station,  yet,  as  a  lecturer  upon  missions,  he 
had  but  few  equals.  He  had  been  on  heathen  ground,  had 
witnessed  the  degradation  of  the  people  of  the  world,  and  his 
voice  thrilled  like  a  trumpet  from  Maine  to  Georgia. 

Awhile  before  his  death,  Mr.  Rice  closed  his  connection  with 
the  Convention,  and  gave  himself  to  other  duties.  The  estima- 
tion in  which  he  was  held  by  the  members  of  the  denomina- 
tion to  which  he  attached  himself,  cannot  better  be  expressed 
than  in  the  language  of  the  author  of  the  "  History  of  the 
American  Baptist  Missions."  Prof.  Gammell,  as  the  organ  of 
the  "  Missionary  Union,"  doubtless  echoes  the  voice  of  the 
Baptists  generally,  in  relation  to  this  one  of  the  missionaries  : — 

"  He  had  every  quality  essential  to  the  discharge  of  a  great 
executive  office,  excepting  discretion  alone,  —  that  one,  with- 
out which  knowledge  and  piety,  and  zeal  the  most  disinter- 
ested, are  clearly  unavailing.  The  inextricable  confusion  in 
which  his  affairs  were  at  length  involved,  proved  so  serious  an 
embarrassment  to  all  the  interests  of  the  Convention,  as,  at  last, 
in  some  degree,  to  cast  a  shade  over  his  distinguished  ser- 
vices, and  almost  to  eclipse  the  singular  disinterestedness  which 


APPENDIX.  155 

shone  so  brightly  through  all  his  character.  Yet,  notwith- 
standing his  imperfections  and  errors,  —  and  these  had  their 
origin  in  a  too  ardent  and  unrestrained  imagination, —  his  name 
deserves  to  be  enrolled  among  the  ablest  and  most  devoted  of 
the  founders  of  our  American  Missions,  for  he  accomplished  a 
work  which  no  one  of  his  cotemporaries  could  have  possibly 
achieved." 

Mr.  Rice  "would  hardly  have  made  an  efficient  missionary. 
His  zeal,  his  imagination,  would  have  played  strange  freaks 
with  his  judgment,  and  while  he  would  have  been  abundant 
in  labors,  he  might  have  lacked  that  discrimination  which  is 
so  essential  to  a  man  of  God  among  the  heathen.  The  qualifi- 
cations for  a  missionary  life  are  admirably  set  forth  in  the  fol- 
lowing brief  letter,  from  his  former  associate  and  friend : — 

"  RANGOON,  Nov.  14,  1816. 

"  My  beloved  brother  Rice,  —  In  encouraging  other  young  men 
to  come  out  as  missionaries,  do  use  the  greatest  caution. 
You  have  hit  right,  in  brother  Hough.  But  one  wrong-headed, 
conscientiously  obstinate  fellow,  would  ruin  us.  Humble, 
quiet,  persevering  men  ;  men  of  sound  sterling  talents,  (though 
perhaps  not  brilliant,)  of  decent  accomplishments,  and  some 
natural  aptitude  to  acquire  a  language;  men  of  an  amiable, 
yielding  temper,  willing  to  take  the  lowest  place,  to  be  the  least 
of  all,  and  the  servant  of  all ;  men  who  enjoy  much  closet  reli- 
gion, who  live  near  to  God,  and  are  willing  to  suffer  all  things 
for  Christ's  sake,  without  being  proud  of  it,  —  these  are  the 
men,  &c.  But  O,  how  unlike  to  this  description  is  the  writer 
of  it!" 

And  here  again  we  see  the  wisdom  of  God,  in  withdrawing 
Mr.  Rice  from  the  foreign  field,  and  giving  him  employment 
at  home,  where  he  could  have  counsellors,  and  judicious  asso- 
ciates and  advisers.  Here,  he  was  the  means  of  awakening  a 
mighty  energy,  and  giving  direction  to  a  mighty  impulse. 
There,  he  might  have  endangered  the  cause  by  a  rash  step,  and 


156  APPENDIX. 

a  heedless  movement.  Well  for  Zion,  that  to  the  judicious 
Judson  was  given  the  work  of  preaching  the  gospel,  and  plant- 
ing the  church  in  the  Burman  empire. 

Mr.  Rice  died  at  Edgefield  District,  S.  C.,  September  25, 
1836.  His  illness  was  short,  and  his  words  few  ;  his  spirit  left 
the  world,  going  up  to  meet  the  ransomed  ones,  who  through 
the  labors  of  Judson,  Newell,  and  Hall,  had  been  gathered  from 
heathendom,  to  swell  the  chorus  of  the  skies.  He  died  in  the 
vigor  of  manhood,  in  the  54th  year  of  his  age,  leaving  behind 
him  his  arduous  toils  as  his  richest  legacy. 

He  was  not  mourned  as  were  Newell  and  Hall,  because,  from 
the  circumstances,  in  which  he  was  called  to  act,  his  place 
could  be  more  easily  supplied.  Though  one  of  the  first  mis- 
sionaries, he  died  not  on  the  field  of  battle,  but  on  the  shores 
of  his  own  loved  land  ;  and  yet,  he  had  far  more  to  do  with  the 
great  work,  which,  since  his  death,  has  been  going  on  with 
new  power  and  glory,  than  men  are  willing  to  acknowledge. 
It  was  his  stirring  appeal,  uttered  in  the  crowded  city,  and  in 
the  retired  village,  which  awoke  the  spirit  of  missions,  and 
called  a  missionary  church  to  imitate  her  Lord.  The  money 
which  came  pouring  into  the  treasury,  was  the  golden  response 
made  to  his  fervent  addresses,  which  none  could  hear  without 
being  moved  by  the  wants  and  woes  of  a  world  in  sin. 

If  Mr.  Rice  had  faults,  if  he  was  too  impetuous,  if  he  some- 
times said  rash  things,  let  them  be  forgotten  ;  while  memory 
dwells  with  pleasure  upon  his  indefatigable  labors,  and  his 
honest  exertions  to  glorify  God.  Raise  high  the  monument, 
and  inscribe  upon  it, 

PEACE   TO   HIS   ASHES. 


APPENDIX. 


SAMUEL  NEWELL. 

This  servant  of  God  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1807,  and  was  not  considered  as 
an  inferior  scholar.  He  became  associated  with  Judson,  and 
the  other  pioneers  in  this  good  work,  during  his  course  of  the- 
ological study  at  Andover.  He  was  known  among  his  friends 
as  a  devoted  and  conscientious  young  man,  ready  for  toil  and 
sacrifice.  He  became  acquainted  with  Harriet  Atwood,  about 
the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  Congregational  Association  in 
Bradford,  and  at  once  proposed  that  she  should  accompany 
him  to  a  world  of  darkness.  For  this  daring  scheme  she  was 
ready,  and  soon  made  known  to  him  her  determination  to 
share  his  suffering,  and  enjoy  his  reward. 

Against  the  advice  of  friends,  and  the  counsels  of  some  to 
whom  she  had  been  accustomed  to  look  for  guidance  and 
direction,  her  plan  was  formed  with  prayerful  dependence  on 
Him  who  is  wiser  and  better  than  any  of  the  sons  of  me». 
The  step,  involving  sacrifice  and  toil,  and  self- denial  and  hard- 
ship, was  taken  for  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  souls  of  thousands 
who  were  perishing  for  lack  of  vision,  and  for  want  of  the 
knowledge  of  our  divine  and  glorious  Saviour,  who  brought 
life  and  immortality  to  light. 

They  were  married  in  the  early  part  of  1812,  and  soon 
sailed  in  the  Caravan,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson,  never  to 
return  to  the  shores  of  New  England.  The  voyage  was 
chequered  with  the  usual  amount  of  sea-sickness,  storms, 
calms,  —  scenes  of  beauty  and  terror.  The  vessel  arrived  in 
June,  and  Mr.  Newell  and  his  companions  were  warmly  re- 
ceived by  the  missionaries  under  the  direction  of  an  English 
Missionary  Society.  But  now  commenced  a  series  of  sorrows 
and  trials,  which  ended  in  the  death  of  Mrs.  Newell,  and  the 
overthrow  of  all  the  hopes  of  her  companion. 

In  consequence  of  the  order  received,  to  leave  the  country,  Mr. 
Newell  sailed  for  the  Isle  of  France.  The  voyage  was  a  severe 
one.  They  embarked  on  the  4th  of  August,  and  did  not  arrive 


158  APPENDIX. 

at  the  desired  haven  until  November.  To  that  cruel  order,  and 
that  trying  voyage,  the  death  of  Mrs.  Newell  may  be  attributed. 
About  three  weeks  before  her  arrival,  she  gave  birth  to  an 
infant  daughter,  which  lived  but  five  days,  and  then  returned 
to  the  God  who  gave  it.  The  violence  of  the  motion  of  the 
ship,  the  damp  air,  and  the  heavy  rains,  threw  the  mother  into 
consumption,  from  which  it  was  impossible  to  deliver  her. 
Each  day  she  drew  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  gates  of  death, 
until,  on  the  30th  of  November,  she  died  at  Port  Louis,  a  mar- 
tyr to  the  cause  of  missions.  The  bereaved  husband  bowed 
himself  over  the  grave  with  sadness  and  tears.  The  object  of 
his  affections  was  removed  from  him.  Far  from  home  and  kin- 
dred, she  had  found  a  grave ;  and  there  her  ashes  sleep,  await- 
ing the  sound  of  the  last  trumpet. 

A  year  of  changes  !  The  marriage  festival  ;  the  ordination 
in  Salem  ;  the  parting  from  friends ;  the  last  adieu  ;  the  embar- 
kation on  that  cold,  severe  day  ;  the  voyage,  with  all  its  sick- 
ness and  sorrow,  trials  and  joys  ;  the  arrival  in  Calcutta ;  the 
meeting  with  the  Baptist  missionaries  there  ;  the  cruel  order 
to  leave  the  country  ;  the  voyage  to  the  Isle  of  France  ;  the 
birth  and  death  of  their  infant ;  the  death  of  the  wife  and 
mother; — were  crowded,  to  that  afflicted  husband,  into  one 
single  twelvemonth.  The  cup  of  bitterness  was  filled  up  to 
the  very  brim ;  deep  called  unto  deep,  and  the  sorrow-stricken 
mourner  bowed  himself  in  grief  and  resignation.  His  were  fear- 
ful trials ;  and  yet  he  kissed  the  rod  which  had  smitten  him, 
and  refused  not  to  love  the  being  who  had  given  him  tears 
to  drink. 

Very  soon  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Newell  embarked 
at  Mauritius,  and  proceeded  to  Ceylon.  His  original  inten- 
tion would  have  led  him  to  join  the  missionaries  at  Bombay  ; 
but,  having  some  evidence  that  the  government  would  not  per- 
mit a  mission  to  be  established  at  that  place,  he  sought  an 
interview  with  Governor  Brownrigg,  who  promised  him  protec- 
tion and  assistance  at  Ceylon.  With  the  great  desire  of  doing 
good  before  him,  he  set  himself  to  work  at  once,  and  preached 
several  times  each  week,  to  such  of  the  people  as  were  disposed 


APPENDIX.  159 

to  come  out  and  hear  him.  He  did  not  very  long  remain  in  this 
uninviting  field.  When  it  became  known  that  the  authorities 
at  Bombay  would  allow  the  mission  to  proceed,  and  the  word 
of  God  to  be  preached,  Mr.  Newell  embarked  at  once  to  join 
his  brethren,  with  whom  he  had  associated  in  America,  and 
with  whom  he  was  to  die  in  India.  Taking  Goa  and  Cochin 
on  his  way,  he  arrived  at  Bombay,  March  7,  1814,  and  imme- 
diately devoted  himself  to  missionary  labor. 

The  people,  whom  he  had  just  left,  were  not  permitted  long 
to  remain  without  the  word  of  life.  The  Ceylon  mission  was 
soon  commenced.  Rev.  James  Richards,  one  of  the  immortal 
number  who  first  signed  the  document  which  was  sent  to  the 
Congregational  Association  in  Bradford,  and  four  others,  were 
sent  out  in  the  brig  Dryad,  with  instructions  to  commence  a 
mission  in  the  northern  part  of  Ceylon,  and  though  this  com- 
pany is  usually  regarded  as  the  originators  of  that  mission,  yet 
Mr.  Newell,  doubtless,  deserves  the  honor  which  can  flow  from 
such  an  achievement.  He  was,  in  reality,  the  founder  of  the 
Ceylon  mission,  and  it  was  through  his  influence  and  appeals 
that  the  five  brethren  were  sent  out,  and  kindly  received  on 
their  arrival.  He  led  the  way,  prepared  the  ground,  and  open- 
ed the  door,  that  other  laborers  might  enter  and  do  good.  But 
for  him,  any  and  all  efforts,  for  the  evangelization  of  Ceylon, 
might  have  been  delayed  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

The  mission  at  Bombay  was  weakened  in  1815,  by  the  return 
of  Mr.  Nott  to  the  United  States.  A  disease,  incident  to  the 
country  and  climate,  fastened  on  him  soon  after  his  arrival, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  return  to  America,  having  suffered 
for  Christ  a  few  years  only.  His  place  was  soon  filled  by 
Rev.  Horatio  Bardwell,  who  was  a  printer  as  well  as  a  minister. 
A  printing-press  and  types  were  soon  secured,  which  added  very 
much  to  the  strength  and  efficiency  of  the  station.  Books 
were  soon  prepared  in  the  language  of  the  natives.  The  first 
was  a  tract  of  eight  pages,  of  which  fifteen  hundred  copies 
•were  distributed  far  and  wide,  with  the  most  wholesome  effect. 
Soon,  the  gospel  of  Matthew  was  issued,  in  an  edition  of  fifteen 
hundred.  This  work  gave  great  satisfaction  to  the  Christian 


160  APPENDIX. 

toilers.  They  regarded  these  books  as  so  many  preachers,  sent 
out  to  speak  where  the  voice  of  the  living  preacher  could  not 
be  heard,  and  draw  the  attention  of  the  people  to  the  great 
truths  of  revelation  at  seasons  when  the  missionary  would  not 
be  allowed  to  enter  the  rude  habitation. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1818,  a  company  of  missionaries 
from  the  United  States  arrived  at  Bombay,  among  whom  was 
Miss  Philomela  Thurston,  who  went  out  to  join  Mr.  Newell, 
and  become  the  partner  of  his  labors.  They  were  married 
March  26,  of  the  same  year,  and  lived  in  the  service  of  the 
same  Master,  until  the  devoted  husband  was  called  away  to 
reap  an  eternal  reward. 

Mr.  Xewell  died  in  1821.  In  April  of  that  year,  the  cholera, 
that  scourge  of  the  East,  made  most  frightful  ravages  on  the 
Island  of  Bombay.  In  the  city  alone,  nearly  one  hundred  were 
swept  away  each  day,  and  the  living  became  so  alarmed,  that 
scarcely  any  were  found  to  bury  the  dead.  At  such  a  time, 
the  beautiful  features  of  Christianity  were  developed.  The 
beloved  servants  of  God  went  from  town  to  town,  from  dwell- 
ing to  dwelling,  endeavoring  to  do  good  to  the  bodies  and 
the  souls  of  the  sick  and  dying.  On  the  28th  of  April,  while 
on  his  mission  of  mercy  to  Tannah,  in  company  with  Mr.  Nich- 
ols, he  found  himself  attacked  with  the  first  premonitory  symp- 
toms. The  next  day  his  disease  had  gained  new  ground,  and 
all  the  efforts  of  medical  men  were  found  unable  to  stay  its 
progress.  The  good  man  continued  to  sink  very  rapidly,  until 
death  closed  the  scene  at  a  quarter  past  one,  on  the  morning  of 
the  30th.  His  death  made  deep  and  solemn  impressions  on 
the  minds  of  his  fellow-laborers,  who,  by  the  suddenness  of  the 
stroke,  knew  not  how  to  act  without  his  counsel. 

"When  the  tidings  of  his  death  reached  this  country,  all  reli- 
gious denominations  sympathized  with  the  American  Board. 
The  early  decease  of  Mrs.  Newell  had  thrown  a  charm  around 
the  name,  and  the  sensation  produced  in  America  was  greater, 
perhaps,  than  it  would  have  been  by  the  death  of  any  one  of 
his  associates.  He  died,  not  as  did  his  companion,  at  a  time 
when  few  were  willing  to  take  the  place  of  the  departed  one,  but 


APPENDIX.  161 

at  an  hour  when  the  subject  of  mission.?  was  dear  to  all  pioua 
hearts,  and  hundreds  were  consecrating  themselves  to  the  holy 
work.  He  saw~the  fruits  of  missions  in  the  conversion  of  souls 
and  the  reformation  of  society. 

His  afflicted  widow  remained  at  Bombay  several  years  ;  she 
became  the  wife  of  James  Garnett  in  1822;  and  returned  in 
1831,  shortly  after  the  death  of  her  second  husband.  She  was 
born  at  Rowley,  Mass.,  and,  while  on  heathen  soil,  labored 
hard  to  glorify  God,  and  do  good  to  the  thousands  of  dying 
heathen  who  thronged  around  the  mission  station. 

/  •  *       •' 

SAMUEL  NOTT. 

The  missionary  life  of  Mr.  Nott  was  very  short.  He  sailed 
in  the  Harmony  from  Philadelphia,  after  having  been  ordained 
in  the  Tabernacle  in  Salem.  He  remained  at  Calcutta  awhile 
after  his  arrival,  and  from  thence  proceeded  to  Bombay,  in 
company  with  Mr.  Hall.  Here  a  mission  was  established, 
which  until  this  day  has  been  prospered  of  God ;  but  Mr.  Xott 
was  not  long  permitted  to  labor  in  its  service.  He  was  soon 
attacked  with  a  disease  of  the  liver,  which  compelled  him  to 
return  with  his  companion  to  this  country.  By  the  sea-voyage 
and  the  change  of  climate  he  was  completely  restored  to  health, 
and  is  now  living,  after  nearly  a  half  century  has  passed  away, 
the  only  survivor  of  the  early  missionary  band. 

At  present,  he  is  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Wareham,  Massachusetts,  and  is  much  beloved  by  the  flock 
to  whom  he  has  long  ministered  in  holy  things.  Though  not 
permitted  to  continue  on  heathen  soil,  as  a  missionary  of  the 
cross,  he  has  been  permitted  to  see  the  work  of  the  Lord  pros- 
pered in  his  hands,  at  home  ;  and  from  his  quiet  village  has 
looked  abroad  upon  the  unfolding  purposes  of  Jehovah,  and 
rejoices  in  the  success  of  the  work,  to  which  he  first  devoted 
himself.  He  still  lives  in  a  good  old  age,  enjoying  the  confi- 
dence of  men,  and  the  smiles  of  God. 

A  few  years  since,  when  Dr.  Judson  was  in  America,  a  scene 
11 


162  APPENDIX. 

of  touching  tenderness  occurred,  which  is  thus  described  by  an 
eye-witness  —  the  event  taking  place  at  the  meeting  which  was 
held  to  welcome  the  returned  missionary  to  his  native  land. 

"  During  the  singing  which  followed,  a  gentleman  was  seen 
to  pass  rapidly  up  the  aisle  into  the  pulpit,  and  to  embrace  Mr. 
Judson  with  uncommon  warmth  and  ardor,  which  was  as 
ardently  reciprocated ;  while  the  emotions  which  lighted  up 
their  countenances  gave  to  silence  more  than  the  expressive- 
ness of  language.  As  the  gentleman  was  a  stranger  to  the 
audience,  every  one  appeared  deeply  desirous  to  know  who  he 
was.  He  was  soon,  however,  introduced  to  the  assembly  as  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Nott,  Jr.,  the  only  surviving  member,  besides  Mr. 
Judson,  of  that  first  company  of  missionaries,  five  in  number, 
sent  out  from  this  country  by  the  American  Board.  Samuel 
Newell,  Gordon  Hall,  and  Luther  Rice  are  gone  to  their 
reward.  Mr.  Nott,  after  remaining  a  few  years  in  the  mission 
field,  was  compelled  to  return  to  this  country,  and  is  now  the 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Wareham,  Mass.  As 
soon  as  he  heard  of  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Judson,  he  set  out  with 
all  speed  for  Boston,  to  greet  him  ;  and  hearing  that  he  was  in 
the  Bowdoin  Square  church,  he  had  come  there  to  see  and  to 
take  him  by  the  hand. 

"  Being  introduced  to  the  audience  by  Dr.  Sharp,  with  the 
request  that  he  would  gratify  them  with  a  few  remarks,  he 
said  he  had  given  the  hand  of  fellowship  to  his  brother  Judson 
in  youth;  when  they  were  fellow-students  and  fellow- missiona- 
ries. And,  said  he,  though  on  our  reaching  the  missionary 
field  he  became  a  Baptist  and  I  did  not,  yet  I  did  not  withdraw 
the  hand  of  fellowship  from  my  brother  Judson.  He  spoke 
of  their  early  conversations  on  the  subject  of  missions,  and  said 
it  was  of  no  importance  whether  Adoniram  Judson,  Jr.,  or  Sam- 
uel J.  Mills,  Jr.,  was  the  first  who  conceived  the  enterprise  of 
foreign  missions  to  the  East.  '  Of  one  thing  he  was  sure  :  it 
was  not  Samuel  Nott,  Jr. ;  though  he  was  also  sure,  that  he  had 
thought  of  it  before  any  one  had  mentioned  the  subject  to  him. 


APPENDIX.  163 

His  belief  was,  that  the  minds  of  several  had,  separately  and 
independently,  been  turned  to  the  subject  by  the  Spirit  of 
God." 

JAMES  RICHARDS. 

It  matters  but  little  who  of  the  heroic  men  first  deter- 
mined to  go  forth  to  the  Gentiles.  By  some,  the  honor  is  given 
to  Mr.  Judson  ;  by  others,  to  Mr.  Mills  ;  and  by  others,  to  Mr. 
Richards.  They  all  seemed  to  act  in  harmony,  and  to  be 
proved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  about  the  same  time. 

Mr.  Richards  was  born  in  Abington,  February  23,  1784.  His 
parents  soon  after  removed  to  Plainfield,  where  James  spent 
his  younger  days.  He  became  acquainted  with  Samuel  J. 
Mills  at  Williams  College,  and  there  laid  the  foundation  of  his 
future  missionary  enthusiasm.  He  graduated  in  1809,  with 
a  good  degree  of  honor.  He  pursued  a  systematic  course  of 
study  at  Andover,  and  acquainted  himself  with  the  science  of 
medicine  at  Philadelphia.  Having  resolved  to  be  a  missionary, 
he  was  ordained  at  Newburyport,  on  the  21st  of  June,  1815,  in 
company  with  Daniel  Poor,  Horatio  Bard  well,  Benjamin  C. 
Meigs,  and  S.  J.  Mills.  On  the  23d  of  October,  Mr.  Richards 
sailed  from  Newburyport,  in  the  brig  Dryad,  bound  for  Ceylon. 
Here  he  lived  and  labored  for  a  long  time,  and  was  the  instru- 
ment of  much  good.  He  died,  August  3, 1822,  of  a  pulmonary 
complaint,  and  his  ashes  now  repose  with  those  of  his  mission- 
ary associates.  He  is  resting  from  his  labors,  and  his  works  do 
follow  him.  Mr.  Richards  was  noted  for  his  ardent  piety,  and 
was  led  to  embrace  a  missionary  life  from  real  devotion  to  the 
service  of  his  Master.  He  was  a  man  of  God,  and  the  Mission 
Board  sustained  a  heavy  loss  when  he  descended  to  his  grave. 

SAMUEL  J.  MILLS. 

Mr.  Mills  is  usually  considered  by  his  brethren,  as  having 
been  the  founder,  in  fact,  of  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions.  Dr.  Griffin,  speaking  of  a 


164  APPENDIX. 

missionary  society  connected  with  Williams  College,  in  the 
meetings  of  which  the  holy  theme  of  a  world's  salvation  was 
discussed  by  the  young  men,  says  :  "  I  have  been  in  situations 
to  know,  that,  from  the  counsels  formed  in  that  sacred  conclave, 
or  from  the  mind  of  Mills  himself,  arose  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  the  American  Bible 
Society,  the  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  the  Afri- 
can School,  under  the  care  of  the  Synod  of  New  York  and 
New  Jersey ;  besides  all  the  impetus  given  to  Domestic  Mis- 
sions, to  the  Colonization  Society,  and  to  the  general  cause  of 
benevolence  in  both  hemispheres." 

Samuel  J.  Mills  was  born  in  Torringford,  Connecticut,  April 
21,  1783.  His  father  was  a  Congregational  minister,  of  much 
piety  and  prayer.  He  was  early  converted  to  God,  having 
had  a  deep  and  awful  sense  of  his  sinfulness  as  an  enemy  of 
God,  and  an  heir  of  wrath.  He  was  educated  at  Williams 
College,  and  graduated  with  the  usual  honors,  in  1809.  While 
in  college,  he  caught  the  fire  of  missions,  and  conceived  the 
mighty  enterprises  into  which  he  entered  in  after  years  with 
all  his  soul.  He  pursued  a  theological  course  of  study  at 
Andover,  where  he  became  associated  with  Nott,  Hall,  and 
others,  men  of  kindred  spirit  and  kindred  hopes.  In  1812, 
he  made  a  journey  through  our  western  country,  in  company 
with  J.  F.  Schermerhorn,  awakening  everywhere  the  slumber- 
ing churches  to  feel  and  act  for  the  salvation  of  dying  men. 
He  was  ordained  at  the  same  time  and  place  with  Mr.  Rich- 
ards. In  1815,  his  attention  was  turned  to  the  destitution  of 
our  country  of  the  Word  of  God,  and  at  once  gave  himself  to 
the  formation  of  the  American  Bible  Society.  In  1817,  he 
was  appointed  to  visit  the  coast  of  Africa.  He  was  successful 
in  the  object  of  his  voyage,  but  on  his  return  was  cut  down 
by  death,  and  was  not  permitted  to  revisit  his  native  land. 
He  died  June  16,  1818,  and  was  buried  in  the  ocean.  Me- 
moirs of  this  good  man  have  been  prepared  by  Dr.  Spring,  and 
read  by  hundreds  and  thousands  of  Christians.  Rev.  Joseph 
Tracy,  in  his  History  of  Missions,  thus  remarks  :  "  The  Ameri- 


APPENDIX.  165 

can  Colonization  Society  had  invited  him  to  visit  Africa,  as 
their  agent,  to  explore  the  coast  with  reference  to  a  place  for 
their  first  settlement.  He  selected  as  his  companion  in  this 
voyage,  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Burgess,  now  Dr.  Burgess,  of  Ded- 
ham,  Mass.,  to  whom  he  wrote :  '  My  brother,  can.  we  en- 
gage in  a  nobler  enterprise  ?  We  go  to  make  freemen  of 
slaves.  We  go  to  lay  the  foundations  of  a  free  and  indepen- 
dent empire  on  the  coast  of  poor  degraded  Africa.  It  is  con- 
fidently believed,  by  many  of  our  best  and  wisest  men,  that, 
if  the  plan  proposed  succeeds,  it  will  ultimately  be  the  means 
of  exterminating  slavery  in  our  country.  It  will  eventually 
redeem  and  emancipate  a  million  and  a  half  of  wretched  men. 
It  will  transfer  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  the  blessings  of  re- 
ligion and  civilization  ;  and  Ethiopia  will  soon  stretch  out  her 
hands  unto  God.'  Having  spent  some  time  as  an  agent  of 
the  Society  at  home,  in  forming  auxiliaries,  he  sailed  for  Afri- 
ca, with  Mr.  Burgess,  on  the  16th  of  November,  1817.  Having 
had  extensive  intercourse  with  the  chiefs  on  the  coast,  and 
collected  much  important  and  encouraging  information,  the 
brethren  embarked  for  England,  on  their  return,  on  the  22d 
of  May,  1818.  Mr.  Mills  had  a  stricture  on  the  lungs,  and  a 
dangerous  cough,  before  he  left  home.  The  damp  and  chill 
atmosphere  of  England,  had  aggravated  the  disease.  While  in 
Africa,  it  abated,  and  he  was  capable  of  labor.  On  his  return, 
on  the  oth  of  June,  he  took  a  severe  cold,  and  from  that  time 
rapidly  declined,  till,  on  the  16th,  between  two  and  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  after  delightful  conversation  on  the 
prospect  before  him,  his  strength  failed  ;  he  gently  folded  his 
hands  across  his  breast,  and  with  a  smile  of  meek  serenity, 
ceased  to  breathe.  As  the  sun  went  down,  all  on  board  as- 
sembled, and,  after  solemn  prayer  to  the  '  God  of  the  spirits 
of  all  flesh,'  the  body  was  committed  to  the  ocean.  It  was 
fitting  that  the  remains  of  such  a  man,  whose  character  no 
monument  could  suitably  represent,  should  rest  where  none 
could  be  attempted.  Though  not  permitted  to  engage  person- 
ally in  a  foreign  mission,  he  had  done  much  for  the  conversion 
of  the  world." 


166  APPENDIX. 

Thus  two  of  the  original  number  have  found  a  home  be- 
neath the  waves,  as  if  in  token  that  the  memory  of  the  de- 
parted belongs  to  every  shore  upon  which  the  ocean  dashes 
its  spray.  When  the  trumpet  sounds,  the  ocean  will  send  up 
its  dead,  and  together  Mills  and  Judson  will  appear,  to  render 
up  their  account  and  receive  their  reward. 


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